BioPed & Soles 4 Souls
For the past 10 years, the local BioPed clinic has specialized in lower-limb care through biomechanical assessments, custom-made orthotics, compression stockings, bracing and footwear. They have found a deeper purpose and have made it their mission to give back and help those in need through their partnership with Soles4Souls Canada.
For the past 10 years, the local BioPed clinic has specialized in lower-limb care through biomechanical assessments, custom-made orthotics, compression stockings, bracing and footwear. They have found a deeper purpose and have made it their mission to give back and help those in need through their partnership with Soles4Souls Canada.
Soles4Souls is a not-for-profit global social enterprise that is committed to fighting poverty through the collection and distribution of used shoes.
The first step is to collect shoes locally which are then distributed to impoverished countries. Every pair of shoes that gets donated travels across the world to locations like Haiti, Honduras, Guatemala and Dominican Republic. The shoes that are donated are given a second life through the micro-enterprise program which helps women entrepreneurs earn the funds that they need to survive. These funds help empower them to purchase food, clothing, medical care, books for education and other necessary services.
In addition to the micro-enterprise program, Soles4Souls does shoe distributions in Canada and around the world for children and adults who otherwise might not be wearing shoes or are wearing shoes that they have outgrown. These distributions are always done with brand new shoes that are donated by retailers and manufacturers. In many of these countries, if people aren’t wearing shoes, they are at high risk of injury and disease. Most countries will also not allow children to go to school if they don’t have shoes.
On the sustainability front, a benefit of this program is that the shoes aren’t going into a landfill—they are being repurposed and given a second life.
Local BioPed owner and Canadian Certified Pedorthist, Nicole Reid, has traveled to Haiti & Guatemala with Soles4Souls and has seen first-hand the difference this program makes in people’s lives. Speaking of her time traveling, Nicole says “I didn’t truly understand the microenterprise program until I met a woman named Ginette in Haiti. Ginette had previously owned abusiness selling rice and beans, but her business was destroyed by the earthquake. She was able to rebuild her life through her work with Soles4Souls. The shoes that she gets from Soles4Souls allowed Ginette to provide for her family, rebuild her house, and even put her son through university. Since meeting Ginette, it has motivated me to want to collect as many shoes as possible to help more people lift themselves out of poverty.”
The Sault Ste. Marie BioPed team won the “Giving Back” award at the 2022 annual BioPed Conference for collecting the most shoes network wide. Last year, they collected 7000 pairs of shoes, and this year they have set a goal to collect 20,000 pairs of shoes.
The Sault Ste. Marie community has been so generous and has already donated so many shoes and created a real impact in lives around the world. BioPed is hoping to reach out to more people and let them know about this fantastic charity.
So, how can you help?
Go through your closets and drop off as many used shoes as you can to BioPed at 51 Great Northern Road. All types of shoes are accepted, including: running shoes, dress shoes, high heels, sandals, winter boots, work boots, slippers and more.
Alternatively, you can also find their collection boxes at many local gyms and businesses and can drop your shoes off at those locations.
If your workplace, gym, or school would like to get involved by hosting a shoe drive or a collection box, reach out to BioPed at 705-949-3338 or [email protected].
For more information on the initiative visit: https://www.bioped.com/giving-back
