It's been six months since local resident Bridget Reschke started collecting shoes in her Lacombe Park home. Far from a case of hoarding gone awry, it was all in the name of charity to help barefooted people located an ocean and a continent away.
Local residents donated enough shoes to fill six garbage bags, which will be packed up and shipped this weekend. Reschke said she was thankful for St. Albertans' generosity.
"We're just contributing a small portion. They're all in my garage right now, half a truck load," she said on Thursday. "It's just good that when people find out that you're collecting for something that's a worthwhile cause, they just give freely. I had one lady who just lost her husband. She dropped off all her husband's shoes. The great thing is that they're giving it to a great cause."
The footwear is destined for impoverished residents in Ukraine. The 10,000 Shoe project was co-ordinated by Humanitarian Aid Response Teams, a Calgary-based Christian relief aid and missions agency dedicated to serving the poor and helping the indigenous church in Eastern Europe.
For more information on the effort, visit the organization's website at www.hart.ca.
Car washes for CF
The Carstar auto collision service chain is getting buckets of sudsy water ready for its Soaps It Up for Cystic Fibrosis National Car Wash Fundraiser on Sunday. It's a massive charity effort and the operator of the St. Albert location is hoping for a sunny day line up.
"We're pretty proud to support the cause actually. We actually have one of our employees' sons has cystic fibrosis," said Chris Lane, owner and manager of the location in Riel Park.
Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder that mostly affects the lungs, pancreas, liver and the intestines, causing thick mucosal secretions. It is the most common fatal genetic disease that affects Canadian children and young adults. Two Canadian children are diagnosed with this incurable disease every week.
The chain hopes to raise $2 million for Cystic Fibrosis Canada. This is the first time that the new franchise – one of more than 160 across the country – will be hosting the fundraiser, now in its ninth year nationally.
Carstar is located at 2 Riel Dr. The car wash runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today. Each ticket costs $5.
For more information, visit www.carstar.ca/soapsitup.
Baby food drive
Today is also the day of the first annual Spirit of St. Albert Baby Food Drive. Organizer Cheryl Mackenzie wants people to remember the little ones who often get overlooked when donations are made to the St. Albert Food Bank.
"I think that the perception that we don't need it in St. Albert is completely wrong. It's in demand and, unfortunately, when we run food drives, infants aren't front of mind," she said. "This is something we're trying to bring awareness to."
She added that the emphasis is on non-perishable food products but any baby items (e.g. diapers, clothing and blankets) will be accepted. Cash and other food donations will be accepted as well.
The event runs from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, June 9 at St. Albert Place.
For more information, call Mackenzie at 780-907-1034 or visit www.spiritofstalbert.ca.
