All BioPed locations, including the one here in Guelph, have teamed up with Soles4Souls, an international charity that helps people around the world by collecting new and gently used footwear. The donations help entrepreneurial women in developing countries to earn incomes as well as help to get more shoes onto the feet of the people that need them. On top of that, they have helped to keep 71 million pounds of shoes and clothing out of landfills.
How Does it Work?
Soles4Souls is an international non-profit organization that collects new and gently used shoes to distribute to people in need all over the world. Through shoe drives, one-time donations, and partnerships with companies like BioPed, Soles4Souls is able to provide footwear and income sources to the people who need it most. The two main services they provide are a micro-enterprise program and new shoe donations.
Soles4Souls innovative micro-enterprise program provides gently used footwear to women entrepreneurs in developing countries. They are able to sell these used shoes in their own communities and use the profits to house, clothe, feed, and educate their families.
The organization also supplies new footwear to people around the world who need shoes the most. Having access to footwear can reduce dangerous health problems, barriers to employment and education, and helps people to live with the dignity that they deserve.
BioPed’s Involvement
Each BioPed location collects gently used shoes from their customers, packages them, and transports them to Soles4Souls Canadian warehouse in Mississauga.
According to Meghan Knox, Canadian Certified Pedorthist and Clinic Manager of BioPed’s Guelph location, they collect donations year-round. “Anyone can drop off gently used shoes anytime and we’ll ship them to the warehouse. Soles4Souls will then distribute them wherever they are most needed,” she explains.
Meghan continues, “We love being able to give back to the community in any way that we can. We help people every day in our clinic but working with Soles4Souls gives us another way that we can reach out even further to help those in need.”
So far, BioPed has collected over 500,000 shoes for Soles4Souls. BioPed employees have also travelled to Haiti to help size kid and adult feet and provide them with suitable footwear.
Hosting a Shoe Drive
Not only does BioPed accept donations in-store, but they also provide support for people in the community who want to host their own shoe drives.
“Anyone who is interested in hosting their own shoe drive for Soles4Souls can contact us here at BioPed,” says Meghan.
For more information about how you can get involved, visit BioPed’s giving website or call them at (519) 821-7310. BioPed is located at 102 Wyndham Street North in Guelph.