January 23, 2013

The Charlottesville community is coming together to make sure everyone starts the year off on the right foot. In this week's Martha Jefferson Healthwise report CBS19's Stephanie Satchell found out more about a local shoe drive and the importance of wearing shoes that fit.

For the rest of January, area schools and businesses in central Virginia will be collecting shoes.
The effort is part of the annual shoe drive called “Let Someone Fill Your Shoes.”

“We think the shoe drive is valuable every year because it gives people an opportunity to recycle and get some new ones if you need some and if you have some that you're not using dig them out of the closet and they will be used,” Dr. Bryan Snyder, Podiatrist, Albemarle Family Foot & Ankle.

In February, folks in need will be able to come out to the Salvation Army on Ridge Street in Charlottesville and pick up new and gently used shoes at no cost. They will have plenty to choose from.

“We provide really big bags for people to just take back droves of shoe back to their communities if they need to,” said Dr. Snyder.

It's important that people have shoes that fit well. Dr. Snyder says otherwise, it could cause a lot of foot problems down the road.

“Foot problems start with having ill-fitting old worn out or just unsanitary shoes…rubbing, irritation on the skin, blisters, corns, calluses toenail trauma and pain,” said Dr. Snyder.

Organizers are hoping to prevent people from walking around with pain and discomfort by putting on this shoe drive.

The shoe drive will be held at the Salvation Army gym from 10:00am until noon on February 9, 2013.

If you’d like to donate shoes, you may do so at several locations. The following are just a few locations on the list:

Albemarle County Schools, Century Link, Fluvanna County Schools, Martha Jefferson Hospital and Ragged Mountain Running Shop.