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100,000 pair of shoe’s for Haiti!
 Join Running Free and Let The Sneakers Walk Again at Dundas Square on Sunday October 18th from 11:30am until 7:00pm. Running Free is proud to have joined forces with Let The Sneakers Walk Again in an attempt to collect and distribute 100,000 pair of new and gently worn shoes for our neighbours to the south, Haiti.
“I’m so excited about this initiative” comments Nick Capra, co-owner and founder of the Running Free Re-Use Shoe Program. “Although we have delivered tens of thousands of shoes to nations in need all over the world, this bold and admirable goal can and will be achieved. Julie Dimenna, the brain child of Let The Sneakers Walk Again is a sharp, determined individual who has what it takes to see this through and with the help of generous Canadians and a distribution team in Haiti, she will succeed. I will be there (Dundas Square) all day on Sunday and I hope to see many Running Free loyalists contribute with either footwear or a monetary donation”.
Shoes can dropped off at any Running Free location or at the Celebration Event at Dundas Square on Sunday October the 18th. For more information on this initiative and a list of other drop off locations, visit www.sneakerswalkagain.com
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The life of a running shoe isn't necessarily over after 500 miles...
There are literally millions of people that could really use your shoes.
We're proud to announce a new community initiative at Running Free. We have partnered with several organizations committed to helping less fortunate people that may not have access to proper footwear.
The life of a running shoe isn't necessarily over after 500 miles. Although you can't run on them any more they're probably still in good condition and would make a world of difference to someone who doesn't have proper footwear, especially when it's cold and wet outside.
From now on you can bring in your old shoes and drop them in our drop box at the front of our Markham store (Running Free Barrie shoe bin is coming soon!). This bin is emptied on occasion and the footwear distributed through Toronto's homeless community as well as other areas of the world like Africa, Haiti, and Argentina that are constantly in need of basic items like shoes for Men, Women, and Children.
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When dropping off shoes please remember:
- Tie each matching pair of shoes together
- Shoes should be in good condition.
- Please do not bring footwear that is very dirty.
- Please do not drop off footwear that have holes in them.
- If you wear orthotics bring us your unused insoles! They can provide new life to old shoes.
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We're not just collecting running shoes
We're looking for any kind of footwear that is in good condition that might be useful to someone who is less fortunate, including Cross Trainers, Walking Shoes, Hiking Shoes, Boots, Trail Shoes, and Dress Shoes. Kid's shoes are especially welcome.
There is also a need for warm Winter footwear like boots and other insulated shoes. All donations in decent condition are welcome!
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Just a few good reasons...
- Less Waste. Recycle your shoes, and keep them out of a landfill.
- Help someone less fortunate.
- Clean out your overflowing closet!
- One more reason to pay us a visit!
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Below is an email from Cathy Snowball who along with her family have been able to find a home halfway around the world for shoes donated to our reuse-a-shoe program.
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Hi Running Free,
Thank you very much for the shoes you have given us to take to two orphanages in Uganda and Kenya. I said I would send you an email telling you a bit more about what we are doing.
This is the third summer my husband, Al, and I will have gone to help at these orphanages. The orphanage in Uganda is called Watoto and we think it must be the world's best orphanage. It started about 17 years ago with one widow as the 'Mom' and 8 orphans in Kampala, Uganda. Watoto now cares for about 1,700 orphans, all in family settings with a 'mom' and 8 kids. The kids are happy, loved and have hope. They are going to be Uganda's leaders. Teams come from all over the world to help by building a home or classroom or in other ways. In the summer of 06 our team built a home. Last summer our family ( 5 grown kids) and some friends and relatives built a high school classroom. This year we have a team of 15 from G.T.A. and we aren't sure yet what we will be building.
We are leaving August 6th. British Air gives us a very generous baggage allowance and so we are taking lots of clothes, school suplies and lots of shoes from your Running Free donation program.
Six of our team are going on to Nairobi and we will be helping at a very needy small orphanage called Cheryl's Children's Home. We are going to take lots of things there too.
There is so much more to say but this is a start. Thank you again for letting us take some of your shoes to Africa.
Cathy and Al Snowball and the team.
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