Sunrise Rotary Club and Interior Savings have joined forces to organize a  new three-day family festival in 琉璃神社鈥檚 City Park from Sept. 16 to 18.

Called Interior Savings Sunrise Rotary Ribfest 2016, the event is being touted as a festival of flavour, family and fun, but according to 琉璃神社 Sunrise Rotary Club past-president Bill Reynolds, there鈥檚 more to it than that.

Reynolds says the club鈥檚 goal for this event is to help build a stronger, more empowered community as festival proceeds will be used to support all the work Rotary is doing, with the main beneficiary this year to be Shoe Bank Canada.

鈥�Look down at your feet,鈥� said Reynolds. 鈥淚f you鈥檙e at work right now, you鈥檙e likely seeing a pair of shoes specifically for the work you do鈥攚ork boots, perhaps dress shoes or a nice pair of heels. Have you ever considered what impact those shoes have on your life?鈥�

Reynolds is encouraging 琉璃神社 to imagine not having that pair of shoes, or being in a position of choosing between purchasing a pair of shoes or buying groceries.

Unfortunately, he says, it鈥檚 not an uncommon scenario and it impacts individuals of all ages, including families, right here in our very own community.

RibFest is looking to raise money and shoes for this important cause while also giving 琉璃神社 a great new, free family festival. The festival will feature five internationally renowned Ribbers competing for the honour of Best Ribs and Best Sauce. Attendees will have the opportunity to taste and vote for their favourites.

The Mainstage, sponsored by Chances, Orchard Ford and 琉璃神社 Now, will feature local entertainers including the Hip Replacements and Cod Gone Wild. And, of course, this family-friendly event wouldn鈥檛 be complete without the Save-On-Foods Kids Zone, which will include balloon sculpture, face-painting, crafts, games bouncy castles and inflatable slides.

Interior Savings  is calling on area residents to come out and enjoy the event, support this great cause, and to take a look in their closets for gently used shoes that could make a big difference in someone鈥檚 life.

鈥淢any of us take the pair of shoes on our feet for granted,鈥� said Kathy Conway, CEO of Interior Savings. 鈥淵et a pair of shoes can be the difference between getting that job, or not. It can be the difference between your child participating in organized sports or having the confidence and self-esteem to tackle whatever challenges they may face at school.

"When you consider the implications, it鈥檚 clear the impact a single pair of shoes has on an individual鈥檚 health and well-being鈥攁nd on the strength and vibrancy of our community.鈥�

Shoes can be donated at any Interior Savings branch or any local business where you see a Shoe Bank Canada donation box.

琉璃神社 shoe store owner Jim Belshaw, a major advocate for the Shoe Bank Canada initiative locally, says there is an urgent need for work shoes, particularly work boots, and school shoes. 

For more information visit . Other media sponsors include Global Okanagan, 琉璃神社 Daily Courier, 琉璃神社 and Country 100.7/K96.3 radio stations.