Toyota Donates Winter Boots and Socks Through Annual "Walk In My Boots" Program
* Bill Shelmon, executive project manager of the R&D Advanced Product Planning Office at Toyota Motor North America helps distribute boots.
On Saturday, January 14, The Salvation Army Detroit Grandale Corps hosted the annual “Walk in My Boots” community outreach program, put on by Toyota Motor North America.
The event, now in its 12th consecutive year, seeks to provide support in various Detroit neighborhoods in need. 150 people came on Saturday from the west Detroit neighborhood surrounding the Community Center. All in attendance received new insulated winter boots and socks to help shield them from the cold.
Toyota also donated $15,000 to The Salvation Army Great Lakes Division. Afterwards a delicious hot luncheon was served to attending families.
* Boxes of insulated winter boots and socks from Toyota.
“Sometimes it’s difficult to imagine going without – like not having a pair of quality boots on a cold day,” said Major Bob Mueller, Metro Detroit Area Commander for The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit.
“This year’s ‘Walk in My Boots’ event hit close to home for me because I grew up in Detroit’s Grandale neighborhood, and I know firsthand about the need in this community. Sturdy boots and warm socks are life-changing in frigid Michigan winters. Thankfully, 150 of our community members are better equipped to weather the storm thanks to the generosity of our partners at Toyota Motor North America.”
During the event Envoy Jackie Ellingson, Detroit Grandale Corps Community Center Administrator spoke, as well as Major Bob Mueller, Bill Shelmon, executive project manager of the R&D Advanced Product Planning Office at Toyota Motor North America, and Crystal Williams, President and CEO of Crystal Vision Communications, LLC who organized the event.
It was a great afternoon as Toyota brought a ray of sunshine and warmth to the families. One attendee, Shakira, who came with her two daughters said, “This is a very important cause for the community because there’s a lot of families out here that are in need.”
* Attendee Shakira and her daughter
“Many people know Toyota as a car company, but we’re so much more than that,” said, Bill Shelmon. “We are passionate about serving in the communities where we live and work. With so many people in need due to the recent pandemic crises and economic downturn, it’s a major reason why Toyota continues to do whatever we can to ensure Detroiters are getting the help they need.”
The Salvation Army Detroit Grandale Corps Community Center provides outreach to the community through social services such helping families and individuals pay their utility bills when faced with financial crisis, free fresh produce and canned goods through the food pantry, weekly women’s ministry and church services.
* Bill Shelmon presents a check to The Salvation Army on behalf of Toyota Motor North America.
"What a better day to bring this project to Detroit families than on the weekend celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr," Shelmon said.
With this project, in Detroit alone, Toyota has donated over 2,200 pairs of boots and socks to local families and contributed over $160,000 to The Salvation Army Great Lakes Division.
Sharing resources throughout the Detroit Metro area, boots and socks have been given to families in need on Detroit’s east side at The Salvation Army Conner Creek Corps Community Center, in downtown Detroit at TSA Booth Services Shelter, Head Start and Harbor Light facilities, and at the former TSA Denby Center for Children & Family Services on the northwest side of Detroit.
The project has also been held in Chicago, Washington DC, Baltimore, Harrisburg, PA and Minneapolis, MN.
* A family eagerly awaits receiving boots
About The Salvation Army
Founded by William and Catherine Booth in London, England in 1865, The Salvation Army is a faith-based, non-profit organization dedicated to serving people in need without discrimination. This past year, The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit was involved in providing 2,446,588 meals and 382,681 nights of shelter for the homeless.
The Salvation Army uses $.86 of every dollar raised to provide direct services to people in need each and every day of the year. For more information about The Salvation Army, please call 877-SAL-MICH, or visit us at sagreatlakes.org. You can also donate or volunteer.
About Toyota
Toyota has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. for more than 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our nearly 1,500 dealerships. Toyota directly employs more than 39,000 people in the U.S. who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 32 million cars and trucks at our nine manufacturing plants.
By 2025, Toyota’s 10th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, a quarter of the company’s 2022 U.S. sales were electrified. To help inspire the next generation for a career in STEM-based fields, including mobility, Toyota launched its virtual education hub at www.TourToyota.com with an immersive experience and chance to virtually visit many of our U.S. manufacturing facilities.
The hub also includes a series of free STEM-based lessons and curriculum through Toyota USA Foundation partners, virtual field trips and more. For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.