Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. and the Sigma Public Education and Research (SPEAR) Foundation are teaming up to provide new shoes to children in local homeless shelters. The goal of the national shoe drive, “Soles for Little Souls,” is to give away 100,000 pairs of shoes to children in every community where Sigma Gamma Rho chapters exist. Distribution will take place simultaneously nationwide on Saturday, Dec. 7.

The ladies of the Lambda Epsilon Sigma Chapter are leading the effort. They will give new shoes to elementary through high school students at local shelters in Salisbury. They will have a shoe collection box at their 2014 Founders Celebration Community Health Fair & Open House on Saturday, Nov. 8, at Rowan Public Library from 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

The health fair will include information about HIV/AIDS, breast cancer awareness, bone marrow donation, screenings for diabetes and blood pressure and more. Representatives of local health care agencies, the Rowan County Health Department and others will be present.

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority is an international, nonprofit community service organization that continues to grow through Sisterhood, Scholarship and Service. Seven educators founded the sorority on Nov. 12, 1922, at Butler University in Indianapolis, Ind.

SPEAR is an official 501(c)3 of the sorority. It was created in 1995 to assist chapters of Sigma Gamma Rho and community based organizations in acquiring additional funding sources for programs and community service activities.

The mission of SPEAR is to promote social, civic, cultural, economic and educational progress for at-risk families and communities.