Local charity Stephen’s Backpacks Society will launch its Footprints campaign July 1.
The campaign gathers shoes for less fortunate children in Airdrie, Calgary and the surrounding areas.
“We are expanding out to some more rural areas this year,” said director of Stephen’s Backpacks Society Nancy McPhee.
“We are going to be giving shoes to schools in Sundre and Cremona.”
The campaign will kick off with a barbeque at The Real Canadian Superstore in Airdrie on July 1 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with entertainment provided by highland dancers, a bagpiper and singers Anita Anderson and Tamara Parenteau.
“We are calling it ‘Piping in Canada Day With a Whole Lotta Country,’” said McPhee.
“Instead of entering into the Canada Day parade, we decided to save the money for the shoes and raise even more. We encourage everyone to bring the family down after the parade to get a great meal and if you bring us a pair of shoes, we will give you your lunch for free.”
Stephen McPhee, 9, started the charity with the help of his parents when he was five years old.
“He was devastated by the fact that some children didn’t have two pairs of good shoes to wear to school,” said McPhee.
She said the purpose of the campaign is to avoid the embarrassment many students feel when their teachers ask them where their indoor shoes are and they don’t have any.
“It is one of those simple things that we take for granted,” McPhee said.
“I don’t think twice about going into a store and buying two pairs of shoes for my kids every school year but some parents can’t do that. Kids shouldn’t have to worry about that. We want to take that worry away and just let them be kids.”
Last year, the Footprints campaign collected 1,100 pairs of shoes and this year, the Society is hoping for 2,000. The shoes were given to schools in Airdrie, homeless shelters in Calgary and two First Nations reserves outside of Calgary. Stephen’s Backpack Society also provided shoes to the Airdrie families whose houses were destroyed by a fire in April.
Each child is given two pairs of shoes in a hand-made bag.
“It is going to be a wonderful year,” said McPhee.
“We have seen how generous the people of Airdrie are to those around the world with our Hugs for Haiti campaign so I know they are going to really come together for children in their own community.”
The Society is also looking for volunteers to help pack up the shoes on Aug. 19.
“There is lots to do,” said McPhee.
“It is a great family activity. It is such a good feeling for a child to know that when they are starting school with all their new stuff, they have helped someone else have a great first day at school. It sends a really powerful message to children.”
If you would like to donate shoes to Stephen’s Backpacks Society Footprints campaign, drop them off at the barbeque on July 1, at Superstore any time in July or August, at Inches-A-Weigh or at Stephen’s Backpacks Society headquarters in Kings Heights.
For more information, visit www.stephensbackpacks.com
