Now you really can help someone else walk a mile in your shoes.
Kicking your old kicks to the curb isn't necessary when you give them away and hopefully, the new wearer will be able to walk many miles in your unwanted shoes. Maybe your child grew out of their pair quickly or maybe you unknowingly bought the previous year's fashion and couldn't wear them for more than a couple of occasions. It doesn't matter to Soles 4 Souls Canada, who are on a million shoe mission to give shoes to needy people in Canada and around the world.
The organization seeks to collect one million shoes in each province in Canada. For Saskatchewan, that's about one shoe per person, and the charity does accept one shoe of a pair, in case you have lost the its match, in the hopes that some day they will be able to find a suitable second to complete the pair.
Jacqueline Garbutt is an organizer of the local Soles 4 Souls effort, which is running throughout the month of May, and said they already have a couple of garbage bags full of shoes that have been donated. The group accepts new or gently used shoes.
"As long as they can be worn. We're not looking for anything with big holes in them," said Garbutt. "Kids shoes that kids grow out of, shoes that you bought and wore a couple of times and didn't like them, we will take anything from slippers to sandals to running shoes to work boots to pumps. Whatever you have in your closet."
All donated shoes will go wherever they are needed, either remaining in Canada or getting shipped off to any other country with people in need.
"A lot of them go to Third World countries where people can't afford shoes, or to hurricane victims or tsunami victims and other natural disaster victims," said Garbutt. "They also do a lot of work with charities across Canada, (giving shoes) to people who are going back to work and have been unemployed for awhile and can't afford a new wardrobe and certainly can't afford to go out and buy shoes."
Domestically, she added that shoes go to women's shelters as well as victims of flooding and other natural disasters in Canada.
Garbutt noted they accept all sizes as well, from toddler shoes up to 14 EEE.
"It's something that everybody has," she said. "If you don't have a pair of shoes (to give) we'll take cash donations as well."
A donation of just $1 buys a brand new pair of shoes for someone.
"I'm really looking forward to having to sort out a mountain of shoes. I'm one of the guilty ones. I have to through my closet this weekend. They're going to a good cause, and they're not going into a landfill."
Shoes may be dropped off at the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate office's outside entrance at the mall. There is a box by the door to accept shoes. For more information, contact Garbutt at 306-634-5900.
