K-Man Cyclery donates shoes to homeless
Left to right: Keith Schmidt, Mike Byrne, ECHO volunteer, Robyn Schmidt. Photo by Robin Smith.
The donated shoes will be available to ECHO clients throughout the year
–Keith and Robyn Schmidt, owners of K-Man Cyclery in Atascadero, donated more than 50 athletic shoes to ECHO, El Camino Homeless Organization. “Many of the parents at ECHO are the working poor and their children outgrow shoes quickly,” Keith Schmidt said. “They simply can’t afford to buy shoes for their kids. This is just a small way we can help improve their quality of life.”
As a locally owned and operated business, Schmidt says they are committed to giving back to the community, “When you shop locally, for every $100 spent, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll, and other expenditures. If you spend that in a national chain, only $43 stays here. That’s what we are doing with this donation. Giving back to our community.”
“We support ECHO because it is the right thing to do,” says Schmidt. Together with his wife, Robyn, the couple support the shelter regularly. “We provide Gatorade for meals and give gift cards at the holidays. We’ve been able to talk to many homeless families and it’s so disheartening to learn what they go through.” The donated shoes are in adult and children’s sizes and will be available to ECHO clients throughout the year. “We’ve been put in a position to help a bit so that’s what we do,” Schmidt added. “ECHO is an amazing volunteer organization that provides a true need to our community and it deserves our support. God willing, I will continue to support them in any way possible, and the rest of Atascadero should as well.”
To donate or volunteer at ECHO, El Camino Homeless Organization, go to www.echoshelter.net or call (805) 462-3663.
