Lady LUX

Hurricane Sandy made headlines this week when she ripped through the Northeast and wreaked havoc in many communities. To aid in the response effort, Two Ten Footwear Foundation and Soles4Souls have quickly teamed up to provide relief for Sandy’s victims. Two Ten aims to offers financial assistance, counseling, community resources and scholarships to those working in the footwear industry while Soles4Souls’ mission is to collect new shoes to give relief to the victims of abject suffering and collect used shoes to support micro-business efforts to eradicate poverty.

Two Ten has already executed a large-scale response for Hurricane Isaac earlier this year and now, even with its own Massachusetts-based staff affected, the group is responding immediately to the victims of Sandy.

“A total of $41,745 was distributed to 144 families following Isaac, and we expect this amount to pale in comparison to Hurricane Sandy,” said Kate Alley, director of programs and scholarship for Two Ten, as reported by WWD.com. “The storm covered a much wider swath of territory and left destruction in many Mid-Atlantic and Northeast states. According to The Red Cross, an estimated 60 million people will be impacted by this devastating storm. Two Ten knows many of those people are in the shoe industry and will turn to us for help.”

The group has already sent communications to footwear companies that are in distress. Two Ten is offering financial assistance for food, clothing, emergency supplies and short-term housing needs.

“Natural disasters require immediate response and Two Ten is a first responder,” said Neal Newman, president of the organization. “Once shoe people call us, they can count on help — help provided by a generous industry.”

Soles4Shoes is currently focused on finding clothing and shoe donations for victims.

“The focus right now is on rescue, but hopefully it will soon turn toward restoration and rebuilding,” said Buddy Teaster, Soles4Shoes’ new CEO.

To donate to the cause, please email Brendan Purcell at brendanp@giveshoes.org.

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