WINNIPEG

Shoe giveaway in Central Park aims to get 3,000 kids on their feet

CTV Winnipeg Published Saturday, May 31, 2014 10:25AM CST Last Updated Saturday, May 31, 2014 3:59PM CST

Kids play in the splash pad at Central Park. (File image)

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Thousands of Winnipeg kids were pumped up about their kicks after a massive shoe give-away in Central Park on Saturday.

The giveaway starts at noon on Saturday in Central Park, at the intersection of Carlton Street and Cumberland Avenue.

Skechers Canada has partnered with shoemaker Quarks and CanU, an inner-city youth mentoring program, to provide 3,000 pairs of Skechers Bobs shoes.

David Beecroft, managing director of Skechers Canada, said the lineup didn't stop from 10:00 Saturday morning until 2:00 in the afternoon. "Lots of kids, lots of different walks of life, lots of kids who clearly hadn't had a new pair of shoes for quite some time, so it was really nice to set them up with some new footwear."

The event included shoe decorating, food, and visits from the Blue Bombers cheerleaders, Winnipeg Jets and Goldeyes mascots, and Children and Youth Opportunities Minister Kevin Chief.