Toronto youth to benefit from charitable shoe drive

By GEORGE KAGAME
February 10, 2009 12:13 PM
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Street youth in Toronto are set once again to benefit from a shoe donation campaign initiated by New Balance Toronto in conjunction with Yonge Street Mission's Evergreen Centre.
The campaign, code named Trade In Trade Up shoe drive, is now in its fifth year and is aimed at helping youth in Toronto who cannot afford a new pair of shoes. They benefit from donations of gently worn shoes from well wishers.

A statement from New Balance Toronto said the need for shoes is always high.

Trade In Trade Up shoe drive will target donations from residents in the area of Bayview Village, Yonge and St. Clair and Bloor West Village and the donations will go to Yonge Street Mission's Evergreen Centre, which is dedicated to helping Toronto's large street population.

The centre offers weekly foot clinics giving youth the opportunity to exchange their old and worn out shoes for a newer pair.

Donations can be dropped off at one of the four New Balance store locations from Monday Feb. 23 until Sunday March 1, and donors will receive a $20 discount off any new pair of New Balance shoes. Organizers of the Trade In Trade Up drive said with many donations street youth are more likely to find a pair that fits properly. Running shoes are needed most, while dress shoes and industrial footwear are also needed for job interviews and employment.

In 2008 the campaign received 1,000 pairs of shoes and hopes to exceed that number this year.