The Shoebox Project for Shelters

The Shoebox Project for Shelters (French: Opération boîte à chaussures) is a Canadian registered charity based in Toronto, Ontario.^[1] It is nationally supported by Dream.^[2] It collects and distributes shoeboxes filled by volunteer donors with essential and small luxury items for women who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness in communities across Canada and the United States.^[3] Its mission is to remind "women experiencing homelessness...that they are special, beautiful, and worthy of a happy holiday.”^[4] It serves to let women living in or accessing shelters and outreach centers know their community cares about them and values them.^[5]

The Shoebox Project operates more than 35 chapters across the U.S. and Canada including in San Francisco,^[5] New York City,^[6] Vancouver,^[3] Montreal,^[7] and Ottawa.^[8] Local drives are usually active around various holidays including International Women’s Day,^[9] Mother’s Day,^[5] and Christmas.^[10]

In 2011, The Shoebox Project distributed over 400 Shoeboxes to four Toronto women's shelters.^[11] This increased to delivering almost 25,000 Shoeboxes to 135 communities across Canada and the U.S. in 2015.^[12]

History

The Shoebox Project for Shelters was founded in 2011 by Caroline Mulroney Lapham, Jessica Mulroney, Katy Mulroney, and Vanessa Mulroney.^[11][8] The idea for the charity stemmed from the efforts of Jessica’s mother to collect donations for shelters in Montreal.^[11] The sisters-in-law decided to do a similar initiative to benefit the Red Door Family Shelter in Toronto.^[11] Their original goal was 156 Shoeboxes, but they surpassed this and collected 400 Shoeboxes which were distributed to 4 local shelters in time for the holidays.^[11]

References