Finding your ‘solemate’ in the DTES

The Union Gospel Mission was ‘Spreading the Love’ to the less fortunate on the Downtown Eastside this morning.

For the first time UGM partnered with ShoeMe.ca, one of the largest online shoe stores in Canada, to hand out more than 100 pairs of shoes to unsuspecting people in the breakfast line-up this morning.

“We’re really excited today because we’ve been able to partner with UGM and jumped at the opportunity,” ShoeMe.ca president and co-founder Sean Clark told Global News.

The Valentine’s Day giveaway was done to ‘Spread the Love’ on a first-come, first-serve basis and is a much-needed necessity for people in the DTES.

UGM Chaplain Matthew Hislop said it’s not unusual having people coming to the mission wearing shoes barely held together.

“Footwear in the community is a major need, with the weather and people getting infections through their feet,” Hislop said.

Overall ShoeMe.ca gave away 120 pairs of brand new shoes, mostly boots to men and women. The remaining shoes, which were in women’s sizes, were distributed to people in the DTES.

“At the end of the day we want to provide footwear to everyone… even those without a computer,” Clark says.