Monday, March 22, 2010

30,000 pairs of shoes donated to Haiti

by Elisha Dacey - Story: 53440
Mar 21, 2010 / 6:00 am

Now people around the world will know what it's like to fill the shoes of an Okanagan "sole".

Generous Okanagan residents from across the Valley have donated more than 31,000 pairs of shoes to Soles4Souls. At last count at noon on Saturday, 31,256 pairs of shoes were busting out the walls of a warehouse with several hours left to go in the fundraiser.

Organizer Jim Belshaw says he was overwhelmed by the response to the program, which will see the majority of the shoes collected distributed in Haiti.

"The success was phenomenal," says Belshaw, standing amongst heaps of bags of donated shoes. "There's obviously a need. Stats from the Soles4Souls USA says that there's 300 million kids without shoes. And that's just the kids."

Belshaw says since he launched the fundraiser a little less than a month ago, he's been going non-stop, and the door to his store, Roy's Shoes, hasn't stopped opening.

"I think we're going to go for this next year. I don't know how many we'll go for, but we're going to do this next year."

Belshaw thanked his sponsors at a press conference Saturday afternoon, but added a few additional thanks. "A couple of very special thanks - one to Chute Lake Elementary, they were the first school to jump on board, a little grade 5 class, they collected hundreds of shoes," says Belshaw.

"And to a young man in Penticton named Jordan... he's a student in Penticton, he saw (a story about the drive on the news). He made up 200 flyers, and delivered them around his neighbourhood, talked to all his neighbours, got a couple of buddies and they collected close to 1,000 pairs of shoes.

"But I think the most important thanks go out to the citizens of the Okanagan, the Kelowna people. Without them being inspired to open up their closets and pack in some shoes, none of this would have happened."

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

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

20,000 pairs of shoes raised so far!!!!!! We need your help to reach our GOAL!!!


WOW!!!!!

20,000 PAIRS of SHOES!!!


We need your help to reach our GOAL!!!

Thank you for all the support you have been giving me so far on our Soles 4 Souls shoe drive.

Our goal is to raise 25,000 shoes in 25 days and so far we are at approximately 20,000 pairs of shoes with four days remaining!!

The last DAY is Saturday March 20th 2010 from 9:00am to 4:00pm


We are on target and look forward to continued support from the Community!


Jim Belshaw


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

Soles4Souls Kelowna -THE SHOE CHARITY @ Roy’s Shoes Kelowna BC



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

Kids raise over 300 pairs of shoes for Soles4Souls

Hi Jim,

I just thought I would send you a note to tell you what my son Jordan Schalm did for the soles4souls campaign.

He is in a leadership class at school and they are encouraged to put in volunteer hours in the community. He decided to take on the soles 4 souls challenge and help to raise the 25 000 shoes in 25 days.

He made up flyers and delivered them to about 200 houses in our neighbourhood. He then went back, with the help on a few friends, and collected about 3-400 pairs of shoes. We didn't actually count, but it filled the whole back of my pickup truck as well as the back seat.

I just thought I would let you know that your cause has inspired a small group of boys. I think they were surprised at what a great response they got from the people in the Wiltse neighbourhood.
Great Idea!
Thanks for getting the Okanagan involved in this campaign.

Leah

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

Saturday, March 13, 2010

15,000 pairs of shoes collected - Soles for Souls

15,000 pairs of shoes collected - so far
by Elisha Dacey - Story: 53276
Mar 13, 2010 / 1:00 pm

About 15,000 pairs of gently used footwear has been collected so far for the Soles for Souls program in the Okanagan.

Organizer Jim Belshaw says last week the trailer outside his store, Roy's Shoes, was "just packed full to the brim" and the trailer is currently half-full again.

"We got out there and sorted all the shoes into mens, women's and children's ... and I'd say we had about 9,000 - 10,000 pairs of shoes in that trailer," says Belshaw.

Since launching the program with a goal of collecting 25,000 pairs of shoes in 25 days, Belshaw says he's heard hundreds of stories, but his favourite one is of a gentleman who started collecting used footwear almost 5 years ago.

"He called me up, a man from Vernon, and he said 'Jim, the good Lord told me to start collecting shoes five years ago.' He said he knew there'd be a need."

The man stored the shoes at his local church and knew right away when he heard about the Soles for Souls program that this was what he wanted to donate the shoes to, says Belshaw. "He gave us about 1,000 pairs of shoes."

The last day to collect shoes is Saturday, March 20. Shoes can be donated at various Capri Insurance locations around the Okanagan, at Roy's Shoes on Ellis Street and there will also be collection bins at tonight's Kelowna Rockets game.

The shoes will go to various local charities and the remainder will be shipped to Haiti.

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

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Kelowna Rockets Support the Soles4Souls Campaign

The Kelowna Rockets have put their support behind Jim Belshaw and the Soles4Souls campaign to raise 25,000 Pairs of Shoes in 25 days.

Jim Belshaw and Roy’s Shoes has entered in a partnership with the International Shoe Charity “Soles4Souls.”

Bring your gently worn shoes to the Kelowna Rockets vs Prince George Cougars Home Game at Prospera Place on March 13, 2010.

WE NEED YOU TO CLEAN OUT YOUR CLOSETS

Estimates show that every person has 3 to 4 pairs of shoes in their closet that they are not wearing any more, but are still in good shape. We ask that you clean out your closets and convince your friends, neighbours and relatives to do the same.

We ask that the shoes be gently used. All footwear including sandals and boots are needed.
The drop off center will be setup close to the main gate on Game day!!!

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

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

News Conference for Soles 4 Souls Canada - Kelowna Roy’s Shoes - Donate Today




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

Kelowna Carpet One is Supporting Soles4Souls

Kelowna Carpet One, the Okanagan's premier flooring store is supporting Soles4Souls and Roys Shoes.

Kelowna Carpet One offers the largest selection of high-quality flooring in Kelowna. You will find thousands of styles and colors of carpet, hardwood, laminate, tile, and vinyl flooring. We even carry specialty floors such as rubber, leather, cork, and can custom make area rugs.

You can visit their store at:

Kelowna Carpet One
1788 Baron Road
Kelowna, BC, V1X 7G9
http://www.kelownacarpetone.com/
Phone: 250-762-5312
Fax: 250-762-5314

Soles 4 Souls Kelowna - Roy’s Shoes Kelowna BC

My Kelowna Blog List