Soles 4 Souls Kelowna CHBC News 40,000 Collected April 2010

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

Soles 4 Souls exceeds goal

Doris Janssen, CHBC News Kelowna: Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Kelowna’s generosity has exceeded a local charity goal and will help people all over the world walk an extra mile or two in a decent pair of shoes.

The locally organized Soles 4 Souls fundraiser was originally looking for 25,000 pairs of shoes for needy people in the Okanagan and in 125 countries around the world. More than 40,000 pairs have been donated.

“Not only the people of Kelowna and the Okanagan have opened up their hearts to this cause, they've opened up their closets in droves and brought down lots of footwear,” says Jim Belshaw, the local organizer and owner of Roy’s Shoes in Kelowna.

Sorting is taking place to box up the shoes and send them to a sorting location in Nevada, where the shoes will be distributed by the world wide Soles 4 Souls organization, with the help of Telus Community Ambassadors and the Kelowna Sunrise Rotary Club.

Many pairs stayed in the Okanagan to benefit less fortunate people.

Shoe manufacturer Keen also donated dozens of brand new shoes for the cause.

“What we did was contact as many social agencies up and down the valley we could,” says Belshaw. “I was on the phone right until last night. Contacting them and reminding them to come down.”

“He’s got a variety of warm boots and runners and also has sandals,” says Sonja Mountain, an outreach worker with the Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society. “With the warm weather coming up it's going to be awesome for our clients.”

“Often times when our clients are going to find a job, or go to work, they need boots or decent shoes, and it’s always posed a problem,” says Mountain. “When he called us for this opportunity we jumped on it.”

The event is expected to take place every year.

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

Final Tally 40,000 shoes!!! Soles4Souls Kelowna Canada

The Okanagan empties their Closets. 40,000 shoes donated!!!!

40,000 pairs of shoes have been collected and 99% of all shoes have now been sorted and boxed up.

A special thanks to all of the Okanagan people who opened their hearts and closets. We have exceeded our goal by 15,000. Please hold onto your shoes for next year as we will repeat this event!

A special thanks to the TELUS Community Ambassadors and the Sunrise Rotary Club who without their help the sorting and boxing would have taken weeks instead of 5 days.

Thanks to all the sponsors who were so generous with their support:

• Astral Media - 1150 Radio, Silk FM, Sun FM
• Best Western Vernon Lodge Hotel
• Capital News
• Capri Insurance
• CHBC News
• DPI Media Inc.
• Falkins Advertising Specialties
• Floodlight Consulting
• Infocus Videography
• Kelowna Rockets
• Okanagan Pizza Kelowna
• Penticton Lakeside Resort
• Photographic Excellence
• Ramada Hotel Kelowna
• Roy's Shoes Boots and Repair
• RP Express
• Spy vs Spy - The Spy Store - Security Systems
• Sysco Foods Kelowna

SOLES4SOULS CONTACT:

Jim Belshaw
Roy’s Shoes Boots and Repair
1627 Ellis Street, Kelowna, V1Y2A8
250-870-1191
roysshoes@shaw.ca
http://www.roysshoes.com/

The impact of Soles4Souls "Project Haiti"

A look at how people like you are helping us give the people of Haiti hope and a chance to rebuild their lives "One Pair At A Time".



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