In co-operation with Shoes for Souls, Pacrim Hospitality has conducted a five-week long incentive and collected over 12,000 pairs of shoes. Shoes were dropped off from January 25, 2010 to February 28, 2010 at Pacrim’s Head Office in Bedford and 13 Hotels across Atlantic Canada-hotels managed by Pacrim Hospitality (www.pacrimhospitality.com)

“ What a proud moment, as we never expected to have received over 12,000 pairs for shoes for Haiti and Zambia as shoes were dropped off to our hotels during a 5 week period” states Kris Crundwell, Vice President of Sales, Pacrim Hospitality. “On behalf of Kyle and myself (pictured left to right) we want to personally thank all those in Atlantic Canada and across Canada that supported this campaign in the communities that we live and work in” says Crundwell.

Kyle Warkentin, a 19 year old youth, recently was chosen for the Order of Canada Mentorship program for 25 youth to be mentored by 25 Order of Canada recipients.

Shoes for Souls, which is a shoe drive to raise awareness of the stigmatism and destitution that people are facing here at home and in Africa.  “We want people to know that we can do something, even if it is as simple as donating your old shoes that you were going to throw out or just let collect dust in the closet”, says Kyle  Warkentin. “I have to thank Kris and his team for his support, and would like to recognize additional supporters like Metro Self Storage, Cargolink, U-Haul, Enterprise, Guardian Transfer,  and of course the many community members of this Province. “ says Kyle.

While Kyle was in Kabwe, Zambia, he noticed that many, many, many people did not wear shoes; they walked everywhere bare-footed. “This does not seem like a big deal, but wait till you hear this, there is no public garbage collection agency there, so everything that is tossed into the streets, including but not limited to, condoms, needles, feces, urine, and many other bacteria carrying agents are everywhere. Now if you are walking bare-footed and you happen to have a cut or you get cut, and you have the AIDS/HIV virus, you get infection, and most likely develop a sickness that will kill you. AIDS/HIV does not generally specifically kill, it is usually the complications from other diseases that kill, due to the fact that the immune system weakens because of the AIDS/HIV cells” states Kyle Warkentin.

“The campaign has just begun as we are still collecting shoes until June 2010, so keep them coming and visit my facebook page from drop off locations” states Kyle.

Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?filter=lf#/pages/Shoes-for-Souls-Shoe-Drive-January-June-2010/179587786772?ref=mf