For the third year, the owner of Kintec Salmon Arm, an orthotics and footwear company in British Columbia, collected shoes for distribution through community services at New Hope Community Church.

“The idea was to try to find different ways to give back to the community, and shoes are what I know, so it all just kind of fit,” says Graham Archer. As an extra incentive to his campaign, Graham matches each pair with a one-dollar cash donation.

In 2019, he collected 170 pairs and, in 2020, that number increased to 349 pairs. “It’s great to have community support,” says Graham. “We doubled the amount we collected, so we’ll see how many shoes are out there in 2021!”

Since moving from Port Coquitlam, B.C., to Salmon Arm in 2018 for a change in lifestyle and to escape the corporate world, he and his family have enjoyed being a part of a smaller community and have involved themselves with several charitable organizations.

“It’s always been my passion to give back when I can,” he says. His 10- and 13-year-old daughters have developed a similar spirit of generosity, choosing to collect donations instead of presents for their birthdays.

Graham hopes this small effort of collecting donated shoes will make a difference to people in need in some way.

“It’s just one little thing that will allow people to get to the next step in their lives, whatever that may be,” he says.

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