Embrace A Village, Embrace the World
One Step, Lasting Impact
While Earth Day lasts just one day, its message can shape a lifetime: take care of the planet, and take care of the people on it. From tree-planting drives to community clean-ups, it's a day that reminds us of our shared responsibility to do good—on every level.
At Soles Unlimited, that mission goes beyond materials. It’s in the choices we make every day—reducing waste, extending the life of shoes, and spotlighting styles made with recycled materials or sustainable production practices. Our Lightly Loved collection is just one way we’re making fashion more conscious and accessible.
And the same spirit is also reflected in the heart of our founder, who launched Embrace A Village, a non-profit organization in India supporting those affected by leprosy.
Because whether you’re walking lightly on the Earth or walking alongside someone in need, every step counts.
Stepping Up for People and the Planet
The planet can’t be fixed in a single day, but a life can be changed in one. Earth Day is about taking care of the planet – and that includes the people on it as well. This world is our home, and sometimes, the people in it need help finding their way.
One of our founders, Joe Clendenny realized just that.
Founded in 2003, he helped launch Embrace A Village, a compassionate outreach in southern India serving individuals affected by leprosy. What started with simple acts of kindness, sharing meals and offering prayers, quickly grew into a comprehensive support system.
Today, the organization provides free medical care, rehabilitation, housing, education, and spiritual encouragement to individuals and families impacted by leprosy, many of whom are often ostracized by society. Unfortunately, leprosy still carries deep social stigma, even after a person is cured—leading to isolation, rejection, and loss of dignity. Embrace A Village restores not just health, but humanity, by building community and connection.
Healing on Wheels: The EAV Mobile Unit
For many individuals affected by leprosy, accessing medical care is not just difficult—it’s nearly impossible. Remote villages, social stigma, and limited mobility create barriers that no one should have to face. That’s where the Embrace A Village Mobile Unit steps in—bringing healing directly to those who need it most.
Leprosy is 100% curable with a multi-drug therapy (MDT), which has been available since the 1980s. However, millions of people don’t have access to these medications. So That’s why, every week, Embrace A Village provides medical care to over 3,500 individuals across 35 villages in Tamil Nadu, India.
🚐 A Clinic That Comes to You
The mobile unit travels deep into rural villages across Tamil Nadu, equipped with a team of compassionate medical professionals. Each stop offers wound care, medication distribution, basic health checks, and self-care education. For patients with chronic wounds or limited transportation options, this outreach is often their only access to consistent medical support.
👟 Shoes That Restore Dignity
One of the most impactful services the mobile unit provides is custom shoe fittings. Many leprosy patients suffer from nerve damage and foot deformities, which make standard footwear painful or impossible to wear. EAV’s mobile team measures and fits patients for protective, custom shoes that help prevent injury and infection—while also restoring a sense of normalcy and confidence.
🌍 Reaching the Unreachable
With every village visited, the mobile unit carries more than supplies—it carries hope. By showing up at patients’ doorsteps, the Embrace A Village team sends a powerful message: You are not forgotten. You are seen. And you are worthy of care.
Caring Hands & a New Home
When illness isolates, compassion builds bridges. At Embrace A Village, the journey of healing doesn’t end with medicine, it continues through a place to belong. In the hills of Tamil Nadu, the Embrace A Village Rehabilitation and Hospice Center offers more than just shelter. It’s a sanctuary of rest, dignity, and renewal. Here, individuals affected by leprosy—many of whom have been cast out by society—find a new beginning.
🏡 For the Healing and Hopeful
The rehabilitation center welcomes patients who are still on their path to recovery. After receiving initial medical treatment in the villages, many come here to rest, rebuild strength, and learn skills for independent living. With access to daily meals, physical therapy, and emotional support, they begin to see themselves not as victims—but as survivors.
🛏️ For the Tired and the Forgotten
The hospice center provides end-of-life care for those with advanced complications. Each patient is surrounded by trained caregivers and compassionate volunteers who offer comfort, daily care, and spiritual encouragement. It's not just about easing physical pain—it's about restoring peace and dignity in life’s final chapter.
🌟 Little Lights: Where Hope Begins Again
When Pat Clendenny, Joe’s wife, first saw the Embrace A Village program, she asked:
“What about the children?”
Children of families impacted by leprosy often grow up in the shadow of stigma, poverty, and
loss. That’s why Embrace A Village created Little Lights, a safe haven where these children receive education, nourishment, emotional support, and the freedom to dream.
More than just a program, Little Lights is a promise—that every child deserves a future filled with opportunity, regardless of their past.
💬 More Than Just Shoes
While Embrace A Village is a separate mission, the heart behind it echoes what we strive for every day at Soles Unlimited: compassion, impact, and thoughtful action. Just as Embrace A Village brings dignity and hope to communities affected by leprosy, our commitment to sustainability and conscious fashion is rooted in the same desire—to care for people and the planet.
🌱 Purpose in Every Pair
At Soles Unlimited, we believe every choice—like every step—can make an impact.
Whether it’s shopping from our Lightly Loved collection or browsing sustainable styles, your support goes further than you think. To learn more about Embrace A Village or to find out ways you can help, click here.