Canada's Largest Shoe Drive

 

 

RON WHITE MARKS 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF CANADA’S LARGEST SHOE DRIVE
Sets Goal of 2500 Pairs to be Donated this Season

Toronto, ON – January 12, 2023 – Following a pandemic hiatus, Ron White Shoes is thrilled to return with the 25th Anniversary of Canada’s Largest Shoe Drive. Running through February 5th, this year’s charity partners include the Ukrainian National Federation of Canada, along with the CAMH Foundation’s Suits Me Fine program and the New Circles GLOW clothing program.

For over twenty-five years, the team at Ron White Shoes has collected gently worn footwear for men, women and children during the month of January. They have cleaned, sorted and distributed over 50,000 pairs to date.

“We collect close to 2000 pairs each year for community agencies across the GTA. We ask people to look into their closets and find those ‘gently used’ shoes and boots that still have life left in them and bring them to us,” said CEO and Creative Director Ron White. “With the ongoing war in Ukraine, we have also partnered with the Ukrainian National Federation of Canada and have set a goal of collecting over 2500 pairs in this anniversary year.”

The initiative began with Ron White’s first retail location on Yonge St in Toronto, when celebrities and notable Canadians began donating their shoes to help bring awareness to Canada’s largest Shoe Drive. Those donations, including pairs from Celine Dion, Matt Damon, Catherine O’Hara, Rachel McAdams, Vanessa Williams, Hilary Duff and Jeremy Irons are showcased to encourage donors to “follow in the footsteps of their favourite celebrity”. As a “thank you”, donors receive a $50 gift card to be used at any Ron White Shoes location.

“Among my first donors was Canada’s fashion femme herself Jeanne Beker, and since then we’ve had incredible support from international celebrities as well as Canada’s most recognizable faces,” said White. “I am asking people to kick off the New Year on the right foot by helping us to make this our most generous year yet. We are accepting donations at all of our GTA locations, and encourage those outside of that to mail their gently worn shoes and boots directly to our warehouse. We will make sure they get to those who need them the most.”

Retail locations accepting in-person donations:

• Manulife Centre, 55 Bloor St W, Toronto
• Bayview Village Shopping Centre, 2901 Bayview Ave, North York
• Downtown Oakville, 189 Lakeshore Rd E, Oakville
• Leaside, 1553 Bayview Ave, East York

Mail-in donations can be directed to the RW Warehouse:

Ron White Shoes
Attn: Shoe Drive
1020 Lawrence Ave W, Suite 201
North York, ON
M6A 1C8