Soles4Souls volunteers and staff delivered brand new shoes and socks to Hamilton Continuing Care with the help of ServPro of Bordentown/Pemberton. Photo by Michael A. Sabo.
COVID-19 has affected every one of us, but among the people most devastated by the pandemic are those working in healthcare facilities: housekeeping staff, nurses, receptionists, physicians, food service staff, administrators, lab technicians… the list is endless.
That’s where Soles4Souls is showing local frontline workers some love with brand new shoes as part of their 4 the Frontlines campaign which is aimed at providing shoes to the very people working day in and day out to keep us safe.
Through their retail partners at Reebok and DSW, Soles4Souls is donating 700 pairs of new shoes to frontline workers throughout New Jersey.
Many people working in the healthcare field aren’t immune to the financial consequences of COVID-19; many have family members who’ve lost their jobs, so “extra” purchases like new shoes have to wait.
Soles4Souls is a national non-profit that turns unwanted shoes and clothing into opportunity, by keeping them from going to waste and putting them to good use – providing relief, creating jobs, and empowering people to break the cycle of poverty.
Recently they delivered 180 pairs of brand new shoes and socks to the staff at Hamilton Continuing Care, a local 180-bed nonprofit facility that includes a 28 bed Memory Care Unit, a 35-bed Short-Term Rehabilitation Unit, and a Long-Term Care Unit.
“It’s been wonderful working with Lizzy (Swiderski) and Soles4Souls to make this possible for all the Hamilton Continuing Care employees. We are so truly grateful to them for having us been a part of their great new initiative for healthcare workers during this pandemic and all that their organization has done for so many people around the world,” said Yolanda Stinger, Director of Community Relations for Hamilton Continuing Care.
The delivery was coordinated by Lizzy Swiderski, Sole4Soles’ New Jersey Director of Operations and Hamilton Resident along with Yolander Stringer, Director of Community Relations for Hamilton Continuing Care, with a little help from Marco Ortega of ServPro of Bordentown/Pemberton who delivered the truckload of shoes.
“Being able to give back to our essential workers is an honor for Soles4Souls, and being able to do it locally near one of our regional donation centers is even more special,” said Swiderski. “We’re helping them because they’ve helped all of us. We are thrilled and honored to partner with Hamilton Continuing Care.”
Founded in 2006, Soles4souls supporters and partners have kept more than 40 million pairs of shoes from going to waste, and we’ve distributed them in 127 countries and all 50 U.S. states.
Because their model incorporates both free distribution and micro-enterprise, donors get a very healthy return on their charitable investment. For every dollar donated, they are to generate more than $20 of economic
impact.