[caption id="attachment_869" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="est. 1952"]<a href="http://www.phoenixrescuemission.org/index.html"><img class="size-medium wp-image-869" title="picture-43" src="http://giveyoursole.com/blog/wp-content/uploads//picture-43-300x45.png" alt="est. 1952" width="300" height="45" /></a>[/caption]

The <a href="http://www.phoenixrescuemission.org/index.html" target="_blank">Phoenix Rescue Mission</a> was founded in 1952 by six businessmen from the Phoenix area. In the beginning, they ministered to migrant workers and vagrants. "Homelessness" was not yet a term that was associated with persons who had unfortunate circumstances.  Well, today "Homelessness" is a term and one that many people know but also fail to acknowledge.  The Phoenix Rescue Mission is working hard to change the way people think about such term. Give Your Sole is fortunate to be working with them as the recipients of all the shoes we collect at this years <a href="http://arizona.competitor.com/page/2/?l=right%2F" target="_blank">P.F. Changs Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon and 1/2</a> taking place the weekend of January 15-17.

The Phoenix Rescue Mission has many <a href="http://www.phoenixrescuemission.org/programs/index.html" target="_blank">programs</a>. They range from addiction recovery, family outreach and homeless services and more.  For the month of December the shelter provided beds for 3,627 people, served 23,560 meals, handed out 4,824 food boxes, 6,350 bottles of water and 179 pairs of shoes.

From talking with my contact at the shelter shoes are a major need that will get used.  This is where you get to make a difference. Whether you reside in the Phoenix area or happen to be traveling to the event I encourage you to bring your old shoes and come visit our booth at the expo or seek us out on race day near the finish line area and donate those shoes.  Not only will you have purged your closet of some clutter but in the process you will have replenished some hope to a person in need.