FOCUS: How to get cool shoes and help hospital workers

Staff reports  | Charleston Shoe Company, known for stylish and comfortable sandals, has donated 100 pairs of its new Lulu sneakers to MUSC health care professionals who are working to battle the coronavirus.  And now, in a bid to keep the company going as its 30 stores across the nation are shuttered to deal with the virus, it is launching a “buy one, give one” offer to allow customers to send more shoes to hospitals.

“Instead of taking a passive approach, our team is facing this unique situation head on — pushing ourselves to adapt and persevere for our business, while also focusing on our community as a whole and what we can do to help,” founder and owner Neely Powell wrote last week.  “Our store managers, who had to close their shop doors in mid-March, are instead, selling from their homes. From social media takeovers to Zoom call shoe parties, these incredible women continue to spread smiles (and bright sunny shoes) during hard times.” 

According to the company, the Lulu sneaker is “crafted with a soft knit upper which is both breathable and flexible, making it perfect for all day wear. As an added bonus, the Lulu is 100 percent machine washable.  The lightweight rubber sole has been tested and certified to be slip-resistant making it the perfect go-to for these incredible healthcare workers.”

MUSC’s workers appreciate the new shoes, said Jennifer Simon, an MUSC nurse coordinator.  

“The nurse runners who’ve been coming to me for donation pick-ups have been wearing them and love them,” she told the company.  “Your donation had an immediate positive impact on our care team members, and we seriously are so grateful for you.”

If you want to buy and give shoes to health care workers through the company, visit its website and use the code BuyOneGiveOne at checkout. “Customers may purchase any shoe on the site — from sandals to wedges to flats to heels.  No matter what you buy, we’ll send a ProLine (Lulu) shoe to these amazing women!”

The company also is working with its shoemakers to produce fabric masks to donate to hospitals around the country.

• For more information, go to www.charlestonshoeco.com.