A large line greeted outreach workers Friday morning for the monthly Happy Feet event. (submitted/Cst. Josh Waltman)

By Spencer Sterritt

happy feet

Monthly event helped Nanaimo’s homeless keep their feet safe

Jul 30, 2021 | 1:10 PM

NANAIMO — People living rough in Nanaimo no longer have to worry about their shoes falling apart.

The second monthly Happy Feet give away on Friday, July 30 helped dozens of people experiencing homelessness by providing gently-used footwear to those in need.

The shoe drive was conceived by Bayley Russell of the Community Outreach Team, who brought it to Cst. Josh Waltman of the Nanaimo RCMP.

“The vulnerable population in this community puts in a lot of mileage everyday and we’re seeing them without the proper footwear to do that,” Waltman said.

The first event in June helped roughly 20 people.

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Waltman said they saw a substantial increase on Friday, with a lineup down the sidewalk before it even began.

He estimated more than 50 people were helped in the first 30 minutes by himself, the Community Outreach Team and the Street Reach team with the Canadian Mental Health Association Mid-Island.

Much of the footwear available was donated from Frontrunners and the larger community.

“It’s been emotionally overwhelming to see the support,” Waltman said. “There’s a lot of kindness in the community.”

Dann Denis, who spends much of his time walking around Nanaimo and to other towns, said footwear is an essential but often overlooked aspect of living rough.

“It makes a big difference for them to offer something like this. Where can anybody go and have this kind of option to stay healthy?”

Denis estimated he goes through three to four pairs of good running shoes each year and said many living on the street with less quality shoes can go through them in weeks.

Continued shoe donation and also of fresh socks are needed for the Happy Feet event.

Any donations can be dropped off at the Nanaimo RCMP detachment Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @SpencerSterritt