For many of us, footwear is synonymous with fashion. But for the country’s most vulnerable, a pair of shoes is poverty’s most visible mark.

“We often take footwear for granted,” said Robin Schleien, president and CEO of BioPed Franchising Inc. “ But, in fact, many Canadians – children and adults – either go without decent shoes or have none at all. We created the goodytwoshoes foundation to help fulfill this basic need.”

Established in March 2010, goodytwoshoes aims to give the gift of comfort, activity and better foot health to thousands of Canadians. Since then, thousands of gentlyloved shoes have been donated by patients of the more than 45 BioPed full-service clinics across Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and British Columbia.

Now, with hopes of expanding the program to a greater number of less fortunate people, BioPed has partnered with The Salvation Army to contribute to their National Dignity Project. On Wednesday, May 18, BioPed will close its clinic doors, dispersing clinicians and staff to Salvation Army shelters nationwide. In addition to distributing footwear, professionals will conduct routine foot assessments and foot-related education.

“Dignity is a fundamental human right for all,” said The Salvation Army’s Major Chris Dickens, executive director, Maxwell Meighen Centre in Toronto. “Yet dignity is out of reach for those who lack life’s basic necessities.

Footwear and footcare is tantamount to our clientele, but they focus their efforts on other challenges. Many don’t walk well.

Instead, they shuffle in shoes that don’t fit them properly. Others have issues related to poor posture and diabetes. The goodytwoshoes foundation has, and will continue to have, an amazing impact on their lives.” “We truly thank our valued suppliers and patients for supporting our efforts,” said Schleien. “Through their generosity, we’ve accumulated more than 10,000 pairs of shoes and with these donations, we’re all making a huge difference in so many people’s lives. The support of our franchisees has been exceptional.

In closing their clinic doors for just this one day, they will undoubtedly open countless doorways for those they reach.” Contributing suppliers include Aetrex Canada, BSN Medical/Jobst, DJOCanada, National Shoe, PW Minor, Roblin, Etonic, Cambrian, Saucony, Vittorio Phoenix and Simcan.