Teen Barefoots It Across America

I just came across the story of 19-year-old Coloradan Dashiel Alsup, who is nearing completion of a barefoot walk across America to raise awareness and money for Nashville-based shoe charity Soles4Souls. 

The organization is dedicated to providing free shoes to people in need around the world.

Alsup's Oct. 30 blog entry was interesting to me because he wrote about walking through my native Carroll County in West Tennessee, including a humorous account of hiding overnight inside the county's Civic Center in Huntingdon so he wouldn't have to sleep outside in a tent in the cold.

"Walking barefoot from Washington (state) to Tennessee is already an incredible achievement, and we're honored that he's been undertaking this barefoot journey on our behalf," said Wayne Elsey, founder and CEO of Soles4Souls Inc.

Elsey and Soles4Souls staff will be at The Parthenon in Nashville at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 6. They will walk down Broadway Avenue toward 8th Avenue and turn south until they arrive at the Nashville Rescue Mission.

"We welcome any and all supporters to join us in the walk to show our appreciation for Dashiel and what he has accomplished thus far," Elsey said.

Elsey stressed that supporters do not need to walk barefoot, although they are welcome to shed their shoes for charity.

The distribution at the Rescue Mission will begin around 11 a.m. and will continue until the supply of new shoes runs out.