AGH, Local Charities to Provide Foot Care to Needy Wednesday

Over the past seven years, “Our Hearts to Your Soles,” a nonprofit group started by Matt Conti and his father, Allegheny General Hospital orthopaedic surgeon Stephen Conti, MD, has provided footwear and medical care to approximately 24,000 of the Pittsburgh area’s homeless and indigent people.

The Thanksgiving tradition continues this year on Wednesday as “Our Hearts to Your Soles,” AGH and Catholic Charities partner to distribute socks, shoes, coats, foot care and flu shots to our area’s needy at Catholic Charities headquarters on Ninth Street in downtown Pittsburgh from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“At the first ‘Our Hearts to Your Soles’ event in 2006, I quickly realized that the men at the Light of Life shelter on Pittsburgh’s North Side most appreciated the respect and recognition they received from our volunteers,” said Matt Conti, a graduate of North Allegheny High School. “Each year is a new opportunity to make a difference in someone else’s life.”

Healthy feet, comfortable socks and supportive shoes are a critical need for the homeless, who spend so much time on their feet.

At the Nov. 23 event, AGH physicians will offer free medical foot screenings, free flu shots will be offered by the AGH Pharmacy and AGH’s Dietary Department will provide refreshments.

AGH will also donate coats. Socks are provided by Dignity U Wear and Permara, and Soles4Souls is providing shoes.

Also during the event, the U.S. Post Office will unveil its Madonna Candelabra stamp for the Christmas season.

“Our Hearts to Your Soles” has always been a family affair for the Contis.

Matthew started the organization in 2004 after volunteering for the summer at AGH and seeing the problems, such as infections and excruciating pain, that can be caused by improper footwear.

In 2007, “Our Hearts to Your Soles” took its cause nationwide and partnered with Soles4Souls in Nashville, Tenn., which supplied shoes to 35 sites across the country.

This year, the volunteers will include Matt’s brother Chris Conti, and eight of his fellow students at Penn State University.