The Shoebox Project for Shelters (French: Opération boîte à chaussures pour refuges) 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 current executive director is Lesley Hendry, former social worker, in Toronto, Ontario and Ottawa, Ontario.
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]