FAQ
These are some of the common questions that we receive about our program and their answers. Feel free to email triforafrica@gmail.com with your own.
1. Do you take any kind of shoes or just running shoes? We would prefer to keep our focus on running shoes, tennis shoes, and CROCS type shoes (because of their light weight). If you have shoes outside of these parameters please contact Soles 4 Souls as they accept all types of footwear.
2. Can I mail my shoes to you if I’m not planning on being at any of your drop off races and I don’t live in the Nashville area? Of course. We’ve already received shoes from New York and California. Send them to: Chad Nikazy – 2228 Hayward Lane – Spring Hill, TN 37174.
3. Should I wash the shoes prior to donating them? It’s definately not required, but it would make us really really really happy. If you don’t clean them up we will. Again – we’d be really x 3 happy if you would donate “like new” shoes.
4. Where do the shoes go? The plan is for the shoes to go all over the world and to people in need in the USA as well. TFA will handle shipments to Africa while our sister organization Triathletes for Hope handles shipments to other countries and domestic donations.
5. How do you get the shoes overseas? Good question. We’re currently working with a number of churches, ministries, and NGOs to establish partnerships that will allow us to get the shoes abroad. We’re hoping church mission teams will take small amounts of shoes on mission trips along with ministries. We’ll also work with NGOs to send out larger distributions.
6. How do you pay for the shipping expenses? We’re hoping to eventually land a grant, but for now we’re partially funding it out of our own pockets and through the charitable contributions of others.
7. Can I donate cash/check? Yes. We’re eagerly awaiting our paperwork from the IRS that will make your cash donations tax deductible. Until then, we’re going to keep plugging away so the need for cash for shipping isn’t going to wait. Mail cash or checks made out to: Triathletes for Africa / Triathletes for Hope to: Chad Nikazy – 2228 Hayward Lane – Spring Hill, TN 37174. If our IRS docs arrive soon your checks might sit in our safe for several weeks before being deposited while we wait on the bank to set up a proper nonprofit checking account.
8. I want to organize a shoe collection in my hometown and then send the shoes to TFA/TFH. Is that cool? It’s great. Unfortunately though, you will need to pay to have the shoes shipped to Spring Hill. Also keep in mind that until we secure warehouse space our warehouse is Chad and Karen’s garage. We already have limited space. You should see the place! It’s awesome, but filling up fast.
9. I’m not going to be at any of your races, but I want a tee shirt. How do I get one? Email us at triforafrica@gmail.com to make sure we have the size you want. If we do have it then you can mail us a check and we’ll mail you a shirt. Viva la Pony express!
10. How do I become a member of Team TFA/TFH? Remember, these aren’t your ordinary mortal triathletes that make it on Team TFA/TFH! These are the few, the proud, the . . . aw what the heck….we just picked our friends in 2007. We’ll announce the super secret method of team selection for 2008 on the website soon. Stay tuned. It wouldn’t hurt email us that you’re interested in representing our cause either.
