Peterborough Lions Club Hosting Spring Shoe Drive to Benefit Those In Need Locally and Abroad

In a partnership with Soles4Souls, the Peterborough Lions Club is hosting a shoe drive this spring to collect any gently used footwear and new socks to help those in need locally and abroad.

JUDY JENKINS WITH THE 2021 SHOE DRIVE SIGN WITH A MINOR CORRECTION AFTER SMITH’S FINAL DONATION. PHOTO BY DAVID TUAN BUI.

“Unwanted footwear is turned into opportunities, keeping them from landfills and putting them to further use by those in need, creating jobs and empowering people to break the cycle of poverty,” as stated in a Lions Club press release.

Drop-off locations are in orange boxes at the Peterborough Lions Club at 347 Burnham St. and various locations throughout the town.

Donations are being taken from May 1 to June 21.

New or used baby-to-adult footwear including work, dress, casual, runners, sandals, winter boots and more are accepted.

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Peterborough Lions Club Collecting Used Shoe Donations For Thursday's Lakers Game

The Peterborough Lions Club is collecting used shoes to give to the less fortunate across the world at the Peterborough Lakers game this Thursday.

JUDY JENKINS WITH THE 2021 SHOE DRIVE SIGN WITH A MINOR CORRECTION AFTER SMITH’S FINAL DONATION. PHOTO BY DAVID TUAN BUI.

The Club has partnered with SOLES4SOULS, a non-profit organization that helps distribute shoes to those in need in various communities across the world. The unwanted footwear that typically hits landfills is cleaned and redistributed to those living in poverty. Kenyan lacrosse players will also be beneficiaries of the shoe drive.

Donors can bring their gently used shoes and new pairs of socks to the game located at bins located at all Memorial Centre entrances.

The Lions Club has collected over 3,800 pairs of shoes from the Peterborough community and has sent close to 100 pairs to lacrosse players in Africa. Donations can also be dropped off at the Lions Club on 347 Burnham St. until Friday.

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Lions Club Shoe Drive Collects Over 1,400 Pairs of Footwear For Third-World Countries

The second annual Peterborough Lions Club Shoe Drive saw continued success as 1,402 pairs of shoes were collected to be given to third-world countries announced on Tuesday.

MPP Dave Smith (right) donated three pairs of shoes to contribute to the final total. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Gently-used or brand-new footwear of all kinds was accepted at the drive from the month-long campaign from May 14 to Tuesday. Community members could drop off their donations at the club at 347 Burnham St. or at designated locations around the area.

The shoes will go to Soles4Souls which are given to women in third-world countries to help them get out of poverty according to Judy Jenkins, Lions service chair.

“They clean them, they sell them in the market where they give them to kids who don't have shoes because in the third-world countries, the kids have to have shoes in order to go to school,” she said.

MPP Dave Smith remained involved with the drive, donating three pairs of shoes as the last official tallied donation. The inaugural drive last year yielded 2,549 pairs but Smith says this year’s number is misleading and is still an impressive feat given the circumstances.

“When they started the drive, it was just before the beginning of May and we had that storm that just came through,” said Smith. “They lost about 10 or 12 days of activity going out into the community to try and raise awareness.”

The club’s goal was 1,000 pairs and almost did not meet it until a surge of donations came through out of nowhere.

“The Peterborough community, they're outstanding when it comes to generosity," said Jenkins. "All of a sudden in the last week, we went from 540 a week out and now we're over 1,400."

The community can still contribute to the cause by donating to Bioped Footcare at 655 The Queensway, Unit 6.

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Lions Club Shoe Drive Shatters Goal By Collecting Over 2,500 Pairs of Footwear

After a month-long campaign and 2,549 pairs of footwear later, the Peterborough Lions Club concluded a successful Shoe Drive that ended Friday.

MPP Dave Smith (left) with Gwen Sawyer, Lions Club membership director after tallying the final total of pairs of footwear collected. Photo Courtesy of Peterborough Lions Club.

Present at the ceremony were Lions Club President Garth McQuaig, Lions service chair Judy Jenkins, MPP Dave Smith, Haily Whitelock from Bioped Footcare & Orthotics and other committee members to announce the completion of the shoe drive.

Gently-used to brand new footwear of all kinds were accepted at the drive from shoes, flip-flops, cleats, skates and more were taken in as part of the month-long campaign. Community members could drop off their donations at the club located on 347 Burnham St. or at Bioped Footcare at 655 The Queensway, Unit 6.

Judy Jenkins with the shoe drive sign with a minor correction after Smith’s final donation. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The donated footwear is repaired and restored by Bioped before being redistributed to needing families or individuals, prioritizing locally before donating them abroad.

The club’s goal was 1,000 pairs which was easily shattered which was a pleasant surprise from the committee members.

"I couldn't believe the overwhelming support of our community," said Jenkins. "We put out what our need was and the community just rallied around us and the shoes just kept coming and coming and coming."

Over 150 garbage bags filled with shoes were donated to the Shoe Drive. Photo Courtesy Of Peterborough Lions Club.

Shoes that go abroad will go to needing families in countries such as Haiti, South Africa, Puerto Rico and Costa Rica. They can sell the footwear in order to help sustain a living.

“One pair of shoes pays for food for one week for a family of four. Twenty pairs of shoes abroad pay for one year of education for a student which every student has to pay for their education from grade 1 and up. Another 20 pairs pay for the residence in which the students live,” explained Jenkins.

Smith officially made the last donation, removing his pair of shoes for the cause.

“The Peterborough Lion’s Club has been a key community-oriented organization for decades. They are always working – donating their time and resources – to support those who need support,” he said.

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