Decision on Share Our Shoes delayed

Monday, February 20, 2012

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Diane Wilson
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RALEIGH (WTVD) -- The Secretary of State's office has delayed a decision on revoking the charitable solicitation license for Share Our Shoes after the group requested more time and the state said it wanted more information.

If Share Our Shoes was to lose its license, the charity could no longer operate as a non-profit.

Since it began in 2009, Share Our Shoes has become a high-profile operation in central North Carolina The premise is simple: Match donated shoes with people in need who can't afford to buy them.

But in November, the I-Team reported on questions about the group's practices - including that the group sells a portion of the shoes it collects to cover operating expenses.

Share Our Shoes founder Jennifer Pierce also responded to allegations she personally benefited from some of the sales with a strong denial.

Click here for more on that I-Team Troubleshooter investigation

Now, state investigators want Share Our Shoes to provide written documentation surrounding a large donation from the Fuquay-Varina based Bob Barker Company, Inc - a company that supplied a detailed spreadsheet to the Secretary of State’s office of - not only donated shoes intended for Haiti earthquake victims - but medical and healthcare supplies the company donated in May 2011 intended for tsunami and Nashville flood victims.

Click here to read the related documents (.pdf)

The total donated, according to the spreadsheet, was more than $100,000 worth of supplies and shoes.

Besides the latest request, the Secretary of State was still waiting for more information from Share Our Shoes on about $95,000 worth of expenses that the state claims may not have furthered the charitable purpose of Share our Shoes.

Story: Share Our Shoes practices questioned

The expenses included more than $1,000 worth of charges to fast food restaurants, close to $400 worth of expenses on nails, hair, tanning even teeth whitening services, and more than $2,500 at gas stations.

Share Our Shoes now has until Monday to respond to the latest information request.

Pierce was not available for comment, but last week, she said she has proof all the expenses were justified or they are personal expenses for which she has reimbursed the organization.