As a runner, and shoe lover in general, I purchase and go through a lot of pairs. But it doesn’t feel good to just throw them out into the garbage when I’m done with them. Shoes are difficult to recycle and are most often sent to the landfill, but Strathcona County works with Soles4Souls to collect old shoes and keep them out of the landfill.

Soles4Souls collects shoes to distribute to people in need across Canada and around the world. They are a Canadian Non-for-Profit Organization. At Soles4Souls Canada, they accept all styles and sizes of new or gently-worn shoes. Your donation of one pair of shoes helps save approximately 30 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions released when new shoes are manufactured, and keeps 1.25 pounds of textiles out of landfills.

Shoes are processed at one of their 11 facilities, and then packaged and shipped overseas. One of their international partners buys the shoes and resells them to a local micro-entrepreneur, who can resell them to earn a living.

In countries like Haiti and Honduras, one pair of shoes can provide food, shelter, and education for a family for one day. At S4S Canada, unwanted shoes are turned into opportunity, by keeping them from going to waste and putting them to good use – providing relief, creating jobs and empowering people to break the cycle of poverty.

People are helped by the organization to launch and sustain their own small business selling donated shoes and clothing. This helps protect the environment by putting used goods to good use, instead of wasting away in a landfill. S4S also aims to empower women, ensuring they have the opportunity and recognition they deserve.

When dropping off, tie or bind your clean shoes (in any state of wear) together with elastics and find a bin at any of the following locations:

• Broadview Enviroservice Station, 101 Broadview Road, Sherwood Park, AB, during building operating hours (Thursday to Sunday)
• Millennium Place, 2000 Premier Way, Sherwood Park, AB 
• Ardrossan Recreation Complex, 80-1 Avenue, Ardrossan, AB 
• Glen Allan Recreation Complex, 199 Georgian Way, Sherwood Park, AB