Local philanthropist donates 700 new pairs of shoes to Windsor’s UHC Hub of Opportunities

A local philanthropist has donated 700 pairs of shoes to the UHC Hub of Opportunities.

A Windsor businessman and philanthropist made a huge donation to the UHC Hub of Opportunities on Friday.

Sam Sinjari arrived with 700 pairs of brand-new unisex service and industry work shoes to the UHC, The Downtown Mission, and other local organizations.

The UHC is a registered nonprofit organization established in 1977. The UHC assists the unemployed and most vulnerable in the community during the transition to re-employment.

The aim is to give those in need the chance to step into opportunities with dignity, safety, and confidence.

“I’m really, grateful that an organization like this and others in our community, whether it’s the downtown mission, hands on and support and UHC that support so many other organizations, have programs where they will make sure these shoes go to the right people,” said Sinjari.

The shoes are durable slip-on types, with slip-resistant soles in men’s and women’s sizes six through 13. They are designed for the hospitality, retail, healthcare, and food service industries.

June Muir, CEO of The Hub of Opportunities, is grateful for the donation made by Sinjari.

“These shoes are non-slip, they’re perfect for a lot of jobs that we have, and that our clients can access,” said Muir.

“So, to be able to give them a pair of shoes will lighten the burden, because most of them come in, they don’t even have money to buy food. To put that pressure on them to say, ‘you have a job, you’re starting on Monday, but you need to buy a pair of shoes that are non-slip.’ $75 is a lot of money.”

The donated shoes were sourced locally through border city wholesale and supply, supporting Windsor’s economy while meeting a community need.