Stan’s “Share A Pair” Shoe Drive to Benefit Haiti's Earthquake Victims

Feb. 3, 2010 - PRLog -- GREATER MILWAUKEE, WI – After one of the toughest economic years in over a decade and the recent devastating earthquake in Haiti, there are more people than ever in need of the bare necessities such as a good pair of shoes. And, if your closet is overflowing with them, here is your perfect opportunity to help others while clearing out your closet - Stan’s Fit For Your Feet will be hosting their “Fourth Annual Share A Pair” shoe drive now thru Sunday, February 28.

People can drop off their new or gently used shoes Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. or Sundays from Noon to 5 p.m. at any of the “Share A Pair” collection bins at Stan’s Brookfield store, in The Plaza at17155 W. Bluemound Road, Stan’s Glendale store across from Bay Shore Town Center at 505 W. Silver Spring Drive and Stan’s Greenfield store in the Layton Plaza at 7405 W. Layton Ave.

Admirals’ fans attending the Friday, February 19 or Sunday, February 21 games will also have the opportunity to “Share A Pair” at a special drop off location within the Bradley Center.

Since its inception, the annual shoe drive, hosted by Stan’s Fit For Your Feet, has collected over 26,000 gently used pairs of shoes from Greater Milwaukee residents. Most  of the shoes donated in 2009 were distributed to people in need in Africa through Soles4Souls, a national not-for-profit organization that provides free footwear to victims of disasters, people living in abject poverty and people in need of a fresh start. However, some were also personally delivered and fit for many of the area’s homeless who frequent Milwaukee’s Repairers of the Breach homeless shelter.

Soles4Souls has provided 7 million pairs of shoes to people in need in over 125 countries, including Honduras, Uganda, Romania, and 45 states in America. The organization has already committed to give 1,000,000 shoes over the next year to the Haiti earthquake victims, and according to Soles4Souls officials the majority of the Stan’s Fit For Your Feet Share-A-Pair donations will find their way  to Haiti as well.

The organization started when friends came together after the Asian Tsunami to organize a nationwide "call to arms." It resulted in approximately 300,000 pairs of shoes collected for those in need. During Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Soles4Souls collected 750,000 pairs of shoes for those afflicted.

“We are grateful for the growing support this program is receiving each and every year,” said Jim Sajdak, owner of Stan’s Fit For Your Feet. “We hope everyone will be inspired to brave the cold again to give to those less fortunate here in Milwaukee and Haiti.”

“This is a really easy way to help Soles4Souls and Repairers of the Breach who are both doing incredible things for the less fortunate people in our world,” continued Sajdak, “We’d like to encourage everyone to bring in that pair of gently used shoes that doesn’t fit quite right or that they no longer wear. Join the cause, and clean out the clutter of your closet.”

As a way of saying thank you, people donating adult shoes at Stan’s Fit For Your Feet will receive a $10 gift certificate to be used towards a footwear purchase during February at any Stan’s Fit For Your Feet location. Children’s shoe donations will receive a $5 gift certificate to be used towards a future pair of kids’ shoes.

For more information on the “Share A Pair” shoe drive, visit stansfootwear.com or call 262-432-4030. Stan’s is locally owned and operated. It has been in business since 1950, and specializes in quality footwear from around the world. Its three stores are home to Wisconsin’s largest collection of regular and hard to find shoe sizes.