Toronto, ON – You can help others step up to new career opportunities. REALTORS® Rayissa Palmer and Sandy Bodnar are collecting gently-used shoes for the 21st annual Ron White Shoe Drive. Ron White, an internationally-acclaimed local designer, refurbishes the donated shoes then distributes them to charities such as the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, the Suits Me Fine dress for success program and the New Circles GLOW. Their clientele include men and women who cannot afford suitable office attire.
“My mom, Sandy, raised our whole family to donate our time to support those who are in need,” says Rayissa (pictured left with Ron and Sandy). “This shoe drive is one way we do this.”
“One of the charities to receive shoes, called New Circles GLOW, assists refugees. My grandparents on both sides were immigrants to Canada and the U.S. in the 1950s, so I directly understand how tough it can be for immigrants experiencing a different country. If we can have a small part in making someone’s new life in Canada a little bit better, we are delighted to be a part of that.”
The public is invited to drop off shoes at the donation box in the reception area of Sutton Group - Old Mill Realty Inc.*, which is located at 4237 Dundas St West in Toronto. Rayissa and Sandy can also schedule pick-ups.
“Our goal is to collect 150 pairs of shoes by February 12. We were just getting our feet wet with our first official drive in 2016, when we collected 40 pairs.”
“As someone who is on my feet all day and night with clients, I understand the impact of quality footwear beyond mere style. Ron White’s shoes are the most comfortable heels anyone will ever wear—I can practically run in mine when I’m doing showings or open houses.”
Rayissa and Sandy are very active in their community. Dressed as Santa’s helpers, they collect for the Mimico Food Bank Food Drive. They fund a kid’s craft table and offer face painting at the Mimico Residents Association Valentine’s Day and Halloween dances. Each June, they sponsor a bouncy castle for the school fair at St. Leo’s in Mimico.
Sutton is a 100% Canadian-owned and operated company with more than 8,000 REALTORS® in over 200 offices nationwide. To find out more about Sutton, visit www.sutton.com. To learn more about Sutton Spirit, visit www.suttonspirit.com.
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Sutton Group Realty Services Ltd. Contact:
Sandra Vujatovic
604-691-1655
Sutton Group - Old Mill Realty Inc.* Contact:
Rayissa Palmer
416-234-2424
*Independently owned and operated brokerage
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