Shoes for Kids ensures students can put rubber to the road

By Justin Seward - Lethbridge Herald on August 30, 2022.

Herald photo by Justin Seward Police and city partners display some of the many shoes donated for the Shoes for Kids YQL campaign at the Enmax Centre.

The second annual Shoes for Kids YQL campaign in conjunction with Lethbridge Family Services was an overwhelming success at the Enmax Centre on Saturday.

The focus of the campaign was to collect donated new shoes and monetary donations to assist hundreds of southern Alberta kids in starting the school year on the right foot.

The campaign also received assistance from the Lethbridge Police Service, Blood Tribe Police and the Piikani Nation RCMP.

“We are so beyond honoured to see the support that has come in,” said Mallory Kristjanson, Shoes for Kids YQL event coordinator.

“We had so many returning donors from last year as well as new donors from this year. Our goal is reach at least 700 pairs of shoes. We’re looking like our bins are filling up quickly because of the amazing community support. (We’re) very grateful and honoured to have the support of Lethbridge Police Service officers who are here, we have The Watch as well, we have Blood Tribe Police Service and also Piikani RCMP. All of our first responders have collaborated together because we know the need to assist children and youth with brand new shoes is growing.”

The event brought in 256 pairs of shoes and $13,000 in monetary donations.

As a northside resident, Kristjanson noticed so many children and students going to school without proper walking shoes.

“And so it came to my heart that if they’re not even able to walk to school with a brand-new pair of shoes, what’s happening in gym class (and) extracurricular activity?” she said.

“So three of us, myself, Monica Cove and Nicole Merritt came together and said we need to step up as a community and do something. Our first year was a success, we are so hopeful and optimistic that this year is going to be the exact same success and we know that this need is growing, especially after the COVID pandemic.”

The campaign also serves surrounding Indigenous communities, both public school districts and moving out to Palliser School Division, too.

Lethbridge Police Chief Shahin Mehdizadeh said any initiative where we’re putting in a little bit of investment in our youth and the kids in the community, is an investment in the future of this community and country as whole.

“So anytime we see issues like that, we’re more than happy to support them because that’s our little way to support this community and the future leaders of the community,” said Mehdizadeh.

“Having lived in many communities across Canada myself, there is need for this type of initiative in every community,” he said.

He said the feedback is great.

Sgt. Irwin McAdam works as part of the Alberta RCMP Indigenous policing services in the southern region.

“Like I said earlier, getting a new pair of shoes, it might not be highest priority for a family,” he said.

“They might be trying to get food on the table or in the fridge. But for us to give the opportunity to kids to have that great feeling and build that confidence and put that new pair of shoes on, it’s huge,” said McAdam.

Ongoing cash and shoe donations will be accepted after the event through contacting the campaign at shoes4kidsyql@gmail.com or through the Shoes for Kids #YQL Facebook page.

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