Soles4Souls Canada Distributes Shoes to over 6,000 Kids

As the holidays approach, Soles4Souls Canada has been busy distributing new shoes to children in need, and partnering with various organizations to impact even more children.

Two weeks ago, DSW, Sketchers, and Soles4Souls partnered with Kids Up Front Toronto to distribute over 5,000 pairs of shoes to the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB). Kids Up Front helps reach deserving kids through partnerships with hundreds of child-serving agencies, and worked along with the School Board to help identify children who would benefit most from the donation. 

With kids still remaining virtual for school in the Toronto area, the shoes will be distributed on an ongoing basis for months to come as needs are addressed. The Equity-Poverty Action Network is a list of 60 poverty identified schools within the TCDSB. In identifying these schools, data was pulled internally to ensure the donations would benefit families the most in need. 

“Right now, during COVID, a lot of families are struggling economically, and we think that even giving a pair of shoes to kids in need will help those families a little bit at this time,” says Maria Proc, Director of Ontario Operations, Soles4Souls.

Additionally, last month, over 1,300 pairs of shoes from Footlocker were distributed to four different Boys and Girls Clubs in Saskatoon, Saddle Lake, Winnipeg, and Hamilton. After speaking with the Boys and Girls Club, Soles4Souls was able to identify Clubs that would benefit greatly from the donation. 360 Kids, a charity partner which helps youth overcome crisis and transition, also received a portion of the Footlocker donation. 

In Winnipeg, one of the children, Cameron Ducharme, was playing basketball in sneakers that were falling apart before receiving a new pair of shoes.

“Wow, now I have basketball shoes to play with, I can’t wait,” said Cameron.

Another club member, Liam Beren-Hawkins, was seen playing with the grip on the bottom of his new Reeboks.

“They are going to be perfect for winter, I don’t have to worry about freezing or slipping,” said Liam.

Through a combination of innovative partners, and generous corporate donors, Soles4Souls Canada will have served nearly 6,300 children within various Canadian regions. As COVID-19 continues to impact the country, having to get children new shoes will be one less burden lifted from families in need.