The K-W Shoebox Project

The 2025 Shoebox Holiday Drive is ON!

Dates: Until December 5, 2025

Forget about thinking outside the box. It’s what’s inside that counts.

Special occasions, such as Christmas, can be a particularly challenging time of year for people who’ve been displaced from their homes and separated from their families.

To make things a bit easier, The Shoebox Project collects and distributes gift-filled shoeboxes to women experiencing homelessness to help lift their spirits during the holiday season.

Since they began back in 2011, they’ve handed out over 402,000 shoeboxes and raised $2.6 million in donations. They continue to grow each year and have chapters all across Canada, including right here in Kitchener-Waterloo.

It’s easy to participate! All you need to do is fill a standard-sized shoebox with $50 worth of items such as body wash, lip balm, socks, chocolate or a gift card. You can even add a personalized note for that extra special touch!

If you don’t have the time to put together a shoebox yourself, you can create a virtual shoebox or simply make an online donation. Volunteers will then use every dollar collected to provide gift cards and essential items for women experiencing homelessness in the K-W area.

This small gesture of kindness makes a huge difference! The K-W Shoebox Project offers a meaningful way to give back and to remind those who are facing challenges in our area that they haven’t been forgotten.