Soles 4 Souls Kelowna CHBC News Roys Shoes

Jim Belshaw
Roy's Shoes, Boots and Repairs
http://www.roysshoes.com/
1627 Ellis Street
Kelowna, BC
V1Y 2A8

Going the extra mile for shoes

Jim Belshaw, owner of Roy‘s Shoes in Kelowna, displays shoes that have been donated to the Soles4Souls charity at his store on Tuesday.

The goal is to gather 25,000 pairs of shoes in 25 days to distribute to needy people around the world.

By Daily Courier Staff
Thursday, February 25, 2010

Jim Belshaw, owner of Roy‘s Shoes in Kelowna, displays shoes that have been donated to the Soles4Souls charity at his store on Tuesday. The goal is to gather 25,000 pairs of shoes in 25 days to distribute to needy people around the world.

Roy‘s Shoes will collect lightly used footwear for Soles4Souls, an organization that distributes shoes to places of need.

The downtown Kelowna shoe store kicked off its campaign on Tuesday February 23rd 2010.

Used shoes that are still in good shape can be dropped at Roy‘s Shoes, 1627 Ellis St., all Capri insurance offices from Kamloops to Penticton and the Ramada Hotel in Kelowna. If you would like to donate money rather than shoes, they also will be selling two pairs of new sandals for $5.

Jim Belshaw

Roy's Shoes, Boots and Repairs
http://www.roysshoes.com/
1627 Ellis Street
Kelowna, BC
V1Y 2A8

Soles 4 Souls Kelowna - By Maxine DeHart - Kelowna Capital News

The goal is to collect 25,000 pairs of shoes in 25 days. Jim Belshaw and Roy’s Shoes has entered in a partnership with the International Shoe Charity “Soles4Souls.”

From Feb. 24 to March 20, sponsors across the Okanagan will be collecting lightly worn shoes. Local organizations including the Kelowna Community Food Bank, Kelowna Gospel Mission, NOW Canada and the Kelowna Women’s Shelter will all be offered footwear for their clients.

The remaining shoes will be shipped to the Soles4Souls distribution centre, where they will be sorted and sent to where they are needed. I know that women have many “mistake” shoes in their closets and it’s a good way to clean them out and help others.

All types of shoes, sandals, runners and boots are needed for children and adults, both male and female of all ages. The shoe drop-off locations are: Roy’s Shoes (1627 Ellis St.); Ramada Hotel (Harvey Avenue); the Capital News (Enterprise Way); all Capri Insurance locations; and Astral Media (Bernard Avenue.

A $5 donation at Roy’s buys two parts of new sandals. Organize a shoe drive at your school, church or place of business to help reach the target. For more info call Jim Belshaw at 250-763-5696; http://www.soles4soulscanada.com/.

Stepping up to support the Soles4Souls campaign are Jim Belshaw (left), Donald Robichaud, Bruce Falkins, Maxine DeHart, Robin Durrant and Jim Belshaw. Jr.


Jim Belshaw
Roy's Shoes, Boots and Repairs
http://www.roysshoes.com/
1627 Ellis Street
Kelowna, BC
V1Y 2A8
250-763-5696

25 days, 25,000 pairs of donated shoes - Castanet Article

25 days, 25,000 pairs of donated shoes
by Elisha Dacey - Story: 52867
Feb 22, 2010 / 5:00 am

Everyone has at least one or two pairs of shoes in their closet that they don't wear anymore, but can't bear to throw away because they're still in good condition.

Why not donate those shoes to people who need them?

That's the idea behind Soles 4 Souls Canada, which is being spearheaded by Roy's Shoes owner Jim Belshaw.

Belshaw says it was the images of a devastated Haiti that spurred him to act.

"I've been thinking about doing this for about a year," says Belshaw.

But after the first pictures came back of the earthquake destruction in the Haitian capital of Port au Prince, he started calling people to help him organize and partner the drive.

A month later, Belshaw plans to kick off the charity drive with a press conference on Tuesday and collect as many pairs of shoes as he can throughout the Valley, with a goal of 25,000 pairs in mind.

"I think we can get to 25,000 easily," says Belshaw.

Partnering with many community sponsors, Belshaw will collect new and gently used shoes for 25 days, from February 24 to March 20.

The shoes collected will be offered up to local charities first, with the rest going to international charity efforts, including those in Haiti.

Belshaw has managed to partner with Canada Post and is working on an airline partnership to get the shoes where they need to go.

Belshaw says shoes of all shapes, sizes and styles are welcome and needed - even those three-inch stilettos in the back of your closet.

"We partner with the Kelowna Women's Shelter...a lot of those women have left their homes with nothing. They need the nicer shoes to go out for job interviews."

"So really, everything is needed."

The shoe drive is happening from Penticton to Kamloops and everywhere in between. Shoes can be dropped off at Roy's Shoes at 1627 Ellis Street, all Capri Insurance offices from Kamloops to Penticton, the Ramada Hotel in Kelowna and the Vernon Lodge.

If people don't have shoes to donate, a $5 donation payable at Roy's Shoes will purchase two pairs of brand new sandals, thanks to a partnership Soles4Souls has with a footwear maker.

Belshaw says he's also hoping schools and other organizations will organize small footwear drives of their own and drop them off.

Belshaw says all they ask is that the shoes have no holes in the soles and are wearable.

Jim Belshaw
Roy's Shoes, Boots and Repair
http://www.royshoes.com/
1627 Ellis Street
Kelowna, BC
V1Y 2A8
250-763-5696

25,000 Shoes 25 days - Changing the world, One Pair at a time

ROY’S SHOES KELOWNA ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH SOLES4SOULS - THE SHOE CHARITY

Soles4Souls

Changing the world, One Pair at a time

February 24th through March 20th 2010

KELOWNA, BC – February 24th 2010 ROY’S SHOES KELOWNA, a leader in quality and comfort family footwear, is proud to announce a partnership with Soles4Souls, the international shoe charity. From February 24th through March 20th 2010, participating sponsors across the Okanagan will be collecting gently worn shoes as part of the 25,000 Shoes in 25 Days campaign.

Our goal is to collect 25,000 pairs of Shoes in 25 days. Local Okanagan social agencies as example: The Food Bank Store, Kelowna Gospel Mission, Now Canada, and Kelowna’s Women’s Shelter and others will all be offered footwear for their clients and the remaining shoes will be shipped to the Soles4Souls distribution Centre in Nevada where they will be sorted and shipped to where needed.

Presently Soles4Souls have committed over 1 million pairs to Haiti and supports 125 other countries.

"Soles4Souls makes such a difference in the lives of so many and has really helped us to ensure we stay true to our core values. Health and wellness is important not only for our feet and body but also for our environment. By helping to collect and distribute gently worn shoes we can continue to spread the message that healthy comfortable footwear leads to happiness and wellbeing." said Jim (aka Roy) Belshaw.

Three ways to Help:

1) Drop off shoe locations at any of the twenty locations

-Roy’s Shoes – 1627 Ellis Street

-All Capri Insurance offices Kamloops to Penticton

-Ramada Hotel Kelowna

For more drop- off locations, please visit http://www.soles4soulscanada.com/

2) A $5.00 donation buys 2 pairs of NEW SANDALS. Donation submissions at Roy’s Shoes Only.

3) Organize a shoe drive at school, church, your place of business or your neighborhood!!!

WE NEED YOU TO CLEAN OUT YOUR CLOSETS!!!

Estimates are that every person has 3 or 4 pairs at least in their closet that are not worn any more but still in good shape. We ask that you clean out your closets but convince your friends, neighbors and relatives to do the same. We ask that the shoes have no holes in the soles and in decent shape. All footwear including sandals and boots are accepted and needed.

It is also the GREEN thing to do. There are tons of discarded footwear in the landfills that when break down the toxic glue that holds our shoes together can leak into our water supply and atmosphere.

Okanagan citizens and companies interested in donating can visit the Soles4Souls at www.soles4soulscanada.com or call Jim Belshaw @ Roy’s Shoes 250-763-5696

About Soles4Souls® - Soles4Souls is a Nashville-based charity that collects shoes from warehouses of footwear companies and the closets of people like you. We distribute these shoes, free of charge, to people in need around the world. Since 2005, Soles4Souls has given away over 7 million pairs of new and gently worn shoes (currently distributing one pair every 9 seconds). The shoes have been distributed in 125 countries, including Haiti, Kenya, Nepal and the United States. Visit www.giveshoes.org for more information.

About ROY’S SHOES - For 37 years Roy’s Shoes Boot and Repair has offered great service, quality comfort shoes and shoe repair in Kelowna’s downtown core. Jim Belshaw bought Roy’s Shoes three years ago and is committed to his community and is a proud Rotarian.

He is a huge supporter of Downtown Kelowna becoming a viable mixed use community that supports live, work and play opportunities for both residents and visitors. Jim donates through Roy’s Shoes a $1.00 of every shoe repair to his local and international community. Last year his donations topped $7000.00.

SOLES4SOULS CONTACT:

Jim Belshaw
Roy’s Shoes Boots and Repair
1627 Ellis Street, Kelowna, V1Y2A8
250-763-5696
roysshoes@shaw.ca
http://www.roysshoes.com/
http://www.soles4soulscanada.com/

Soles4Souls Canada - 25,000 Shoes - 25 Days

February 24th to Saturday March 20th

Our goal is to collect 25,000 pairs of shoes in 25 days. Local Okanagan social agencies as example, The Food Bank Store, Kelowna Gospel Mission, Now Canada, Kelowna’s Women’s Shelter etc. will all be offered footwear for their clients and the remaining shoes will be shipped to the Soles4Souls distribution Center in Nevada where they will be sorted and shipped to where needed. Presently they have committed over 1 million pairs to Haiti.

Drop off locations

All Capri Insurance Locations: Kamloops, Vernon, Kelowna, Pentiction
Roy’s Shoes
Ramada Hotel  Kelowna
Capital News
Astral Media - Sun Fm - 1150 Radio - Silk FM
Best Western Vernon Lodge
Penticton Lake Side Resort
OK Pizza
Wickerland Patio and Home
Spy vs Spy - The Spy Store



A $5.00 donation buys 2 pairs of NEW SANDALS

WE NEED YOU TO CLEAN OUT YOUR CLOSETS
Estimates are that every person has 3 or 4 pairs at least in their closet that are not worn any more but still in good shape. We ask that you clean out your closets but convince your friends, neighbors and relatives to do the same. We ask that the shoes have no holes in the soles and in decent shape. All footwear including sandals and boots are accepted and needed.

It is also the GREEN thing to do. There are tons of discarded footwear in the landfills that when break down the toxic glue that holds our shoes together can leak into our water supply and atmosphere.

For more information call Jim Belshaw Roy’s Shoes
1627 Ellis St. Kelowna PBC 250-763-5696 cell 250-870-1191


Jim Belshaw
Roy’s Shoes Boots and Repair
1627 Ellis Street, Kelowna, V1Y2A8
250-763-5696
roysshoes@shaw.ca
http://www.roysshoes.com/
http://www.soles4soulscanada.com/

History of Soles4Souls

To donate call:

Jim Belshaw
Roy’s Shoes Boots and Repair
1627 Ellis Street, Kelowna, V1Y2A8
250-763-5696
roysshoes@shaw.ca
http://www.roysshoes.com/
http://www.soles4soulscanada.com/

Learn More About Soles4Souls®, Inc. - Roy's Shoes

Soles4Souls®, Inc. began as a small team effort to make a difference in people’s lives with the gift of shoes. When
Hurricane Katrina roared ashore the gulf coast of the United States in late August 2005, a group of caring individuals
and motivated charities created a website called KatrinaShoes.org in order to collect footwear donations from companies
and individuals.

The response to its call for action was overwhelming. As the fledgling charity called upon other organizations to help
distribute the amount of donated footwear that arrived, it discovered that the need for basic footwear was immense,
even when natural disasters weren’t looming on the horizon. KatrinaShoes.org reincorporated as Soles4Souls, Inc., which
has become an acclaimed international organization dedicated to providing free footwear to those in desperate need.

Soles4Souls offers a variety of services and support materials to achieve its mission, which include:

• The collection and distribution of new footwear, either from manufacturers or retailers;
• The collection and distribution of “gently worn” footwear, either from individuals or companies initiating
a shoe “trade-in” event;
• Domestic and international distribution of footwear received as donations;
• Collaboration with civic groups, churches, schools, companies, and individuals to plan and implement shoe
drives, generally in a city or localized region;
• Hosting/sponsoring special events (such as retail trade-in incentives, marathons and other races, golf
tournaments, parties at trade shows, etc.);
• The creation of marketing materials in support of special events;
• Special project collaboration and unique marketing avenues with other charities, celebrities, professional
athletes, and more.

By partnering with footwear companies, Soles4Souls is uniquely positioned to collect and distribute customer returns,
excess inventory, and cash to support its mission. And by partnering with caring individuals, companies, and charities
around the country, Soles4Souls has the ability to hold popular footwear drives to reach needy people in the United
States and around the world.

Since the formal incorporation of Soles4Souls as a 501(c)(3) charity, the organization has served people by delivering
millions of pairs of shoes to the following countries: The United States, Mexico, Venezuela, Ecuador, Guatemala,
Honduras, The Dominican Republic, Haiti, Brazil, Uganda, Sudan, and Romania. More countries are continually added
to this list as Soles4Souls finds regional partners able to distribute the footwear to needy people within their region.

Soles4Souls is collecting and distributing more than 45,000- 60,000 pairs of shoes each week, over 5.5 million pairs to
date. That’s one pair every 9 seconds to someone in need.

We are continually looking for new partners with our mission. Your organization can get involved today in making a
difference in people’s lives with the gift of shoes. Contact us today to see how we can work together to offer a simple
and effective gift to people around the world.

Soles4Souls, Inc. – Changing the World One Pair at a Time.

Jim Belshaw
Roy’s Shoes Boots and Repair
1627 Ellis Street, Kelowna, V1Y2A8
250-763-5696
roysshoes@shaw.ca
http://www.roysshoes.com/
http://www.soles4soulscanada.com/