Vancouver-based shoe company donates 600 pairs of shoes to Downtown Eastside non-profit

A non-profit organization in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (DTES) was the recipient of a surprise donation from a shoe company.

Community Services Access Point Society says it was given 600 pairs of waterproof shoes from Vessi, a Vancouver-based footwear company, to give to DTES residents to help them keep dry during the wet Vancouver winter.

“The importance of dry feet and having that dignity goes a lot further than, say, me giving them a sweater,” said Timothy Moorley, the society’s founder and CEO.

“A sweater keeps them warm, but dry feet keeps them with dignity.”

Moorley, who started handing out the shoes to residents this week, says he reached out to Vessi — which specializes in waterproof footwear — after last month’s first atmospheric river to see if they could help those in the DTES stay dry during fall and winter.

He says the large donation took him by surprise.

“It greatly exceeded what we were remotely expecting,” he said.

In an email to CityNews, Vessi said, “As a Canadian company born in the Vancouver area, we want to ensure we help the communities near us as much as possible. That’s the main focus here. We’ve donated to other organizations in Vancouver and surrounding areas in the past and I know that this is something Vessi will continue to do.”

Moorley says it’s his mission in life to help others. He does this through his non-profit, which he started in 2022 after a work accident left him with an amputated leg. Now unable to to work, he says giving back to those in need is more fulfilling.

He says the shoes will mean so much to those in need, because having dry feet is so important.

“When you are slogging down the street and you have soaking wet socks… when you have dry feet, it is going to make a difference,” Moorley said.

“The change this creates is unbelievable.”

Moorley says he received some kids’ shoes as well, which he plans to donate to neighbouring schools.