It’s a good man that gives his shoes. Particularly one that gives them to someone he doesn’t know.
I met Greg Kightley nearly two years ago during one of my regular early morning walks along White Rock Beach. He and I often walk together catching up on the happenings in our respective lives.
Greg is aware of the work that I do with Semiahmoo House Society. One morning he told me about winning a pair or running shoes in a contest he had entered involving Peninsula Runners and a Movember fundraising event. The shoes were Asics DT 2000 retailing for $160. He said, “You know, I already have a new pair of running shoes that are not even out of the box yet. I don’t need these shoes that I won and I would like to donate them to someone who could really use them. I’ll talk to Peninsula Runners and see if they can arrange to donate them to your Society instead.”
Sure enough, Lisa Farrow of Peninsula Runners contacted me a day or so after to announce the generous donation of shoes and ask me to identify a person associated with our programs who could make good use of them. I sent an e-mail to all the staff at Semiahmoo House Society and one of our Personal Development Worker, Brianna Hopaluk, was first to respond. She advised that Toni, one of the Program’s participants, had worn out shoes and could use a new pair.
So, we made arrangements with Lisa and Toni was scheduled for a fitting. The staff at Peninsula Runners were fantastic with Toni and captured the essence of the moment by taking pictures of their interactions with a very happy customer. Brianna, who accompanied Toni on the shopping trip, reported, “Toni loved every minute of getting her new shoes…. She was over the moon excited and grinned from ear to ear.”
When I forwarded the pictures to Greg to demonstrate how happy his generosity had made a young lady feel, he replied, “It’s a real joy to see Toni being fitted for her new shoes! So pleased we made a difference to… such a sweet lady.”
After the deed, Lisa of Peninsula Runners said, “It was a pleasure for us to be involved. It made us smile.”
Thank you, Greg Kightley and the staff at Peninsula Runners!
By Louise Tremblay, The Semiahmoo Foundation
Semiahmoo House Society, a non-profit organization located in Surrey/White Rock, exists to provide quality services and supports to people with disabilities and their families in the community.
The Semiahmoo Foundation, located in Surrey/White Rock, exists to fund, support and enhance the programs and services delivered by Semiahmoo House Society.