A Holiday Gift of Shoes

Payless ShoeSource, which has more than 4,500 stores across the globe, is once again launching its Payless Gives Shoes 4 Kids program. We covered this program at Tonic last November, but this year's program has expanded. Not only are they planning to deliver, according to this PR Newswire release, "more than $1.2 million worth of free children's shoes to children of families in need" (last year's contribution goal was $1 million), but they're also spreading the program internationally.

They will give more than 77,000 gift coupons toward a new pair of children's shoes in stores in the following countries: Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, Trinidad & Tobago and the United States.

Like last year, Payless is enlisting other nonprofits to help give out the gift coupons. Organizations located in the U.S. and Canada can apply at the Payless Gives Web site, and "core selection criteria includes a mission to serve children and families in the local area, direct access to underprivileged children in local communities to distribute the coupons by Dec. 24, and close proximity to Payless stores." Nonprofits need to apply by October 30.

Need further motivation to get involved? As LuAnn Via, CEO of Payless, is quoted in the release, "A great pair of shoes can lift spirits, bolster self esteem and, as we witnessed first-hand when we launched the program last year, bring a huge smile to a child's face."

Photo courtesy of The U.S. Army, via Flickr