Friday, January 09, 2009

Shoe drive for the homeless in Toronto

A shoe store owner in Toronto is starting his annual shoe drive for the homeless. Jenny Yuen of the Toronto Sun introduces us to Ron White of White's Shoes.

The Toronto shoe store owner was walking in the Yonge-Eglinton area over a decade ago when he saw a homeless man sitting on the ground, his toe sticking out of his worn shoes.

"A snowflake landed on his big toe," White said. "I thought, 'Oh my God, he's going to get frostbite.' And when people come in and buy shoes, they leave the old ones, which have some life left. Next thing you know, it became a shoe drive."

His Shoe Drive for the Homeless entered its 13th year yesterday at his Manulife Centre location. Celebrities autograph and donate their footwear as inspiration for others to drop off gently-used shoes for the homeless.
[...]
White hopes to beat last year's 2,000 count by 500 during the month-long drive.

Drop off winter boots and shoes at one of White's six locations where staff will clean them before donating them to the Out of the Cold program, Red Door Family Shelter and Halton Women's Place. To find a location, go to ronwhite.ca.

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