FAIRFAX, Va. - As George Mason student-athletes, service is an important component to our growth as people. Each year SAAC members organize and participate in community and campus outreach efforts with the help of their teammates and coaches. One of the first projects for the 2010-11 year that the Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) has spearheaded is Soles4Souls. Soles4Souls is a Nashville-based charity that collects shoes from the warehouses of footwear companies and closets of ordinary people.

Throughout the month of October, Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC), collected over 300 pairs of dress shoes, sneakers, boots, etc, to donate to Soles4Souls. SAAC partnered with the multiple dorms on campus to place boxes in their facilities where students could donate shoes. There was also collection boxes located in the locker rooms of multiple teams that wanted to donate shoes they were no longer wearing. Many staff members, administrators and coaches, got involved with the shoe collection when they were notified that little kids shoes was one of their main shoes of need.

The shoe drive was the first of its kind within George Mason University Athletics. The participation was great from multiple teams and staff members. The many members of SAAC are very excited about working with Soles4Souls next year to continue to collect shoes to help the children and adults who cannot afford the simple necessities of life.