Shoe collection can help needy get back on their feet

Submitted by Lazarus House

The Little Traveler, 404 S. Third St., downtown Geneva, continues the tradition of helping out local women in need by coordinating shoe donations to Lazarus House, an emergency shelter, transitional housing, and community outreach organization in St. Charles.

Now through April 14, the store is accepting donations of gently used shoes to be given to Lazarus House. As a thank you, customers bringing in donations will receive $20 off a pair of brand new Naot shoes. In addition to generous donations by its customers, The Little Traveler will contribute around 150 pairs of brand new shoes, thanks to the generosity of Yaleet, the U.S. distributor of Naot shoes.

Naot shoes are a brand new collection to The Little Traveler. Naot footwear, manufactured in Israel and known for comfort and styles to fit every taste, was a popular collection at The Meeting Place in Geneva, which closed its doors earlier this year.

The people helped by Lazarus House often lack transportation and so spend much time on their feet. In addition, they tend to have jobs that require them to stand for long periods. “Receiving a pair of high quality shoes, like Naot, has always been very appreciated by the people at Lazarus House and we didn’t want to see that end,” says Christine Kasnik, who worked with Naot shoes at The Meeting Place and now oversees the shoe department at The Little Traveler.

In 2011, Lazarus House provided care to 296 individuals, served an average of 56 people per night, and provided 60,000 nourishing meals to those in need throughout the community. Lazarus House also was able to assist several of its guests with their special needs, including: 89 percent with medical care, 85 percent to obtain or improve employment, and 80 percent to receive dental care. To see a list of the shelter’s urgent needs, visit lazarushouseonline.com