Former Fair Haven Shoe Store Owner Recognized for Generosity by Red Bank Council

If the shoe fits…give it away.

At Wednesday’s council meeting, store owner Dean Ross was recognized for giving away children’s shoes at his new Broad Street store, Doc Shoppe. According to Ross, he managed to give away 629 pairs to those in need. He was presented with a resolution from the Borough of Red Bank, which said “to commend and congratulate Dean Ross for his thoughtfulness and his incredible generosity to the children of Red Bank.”

The act of generosity occurred on September 21 and 28. Ross said that over sixteen people volunteered to help, with the word spreading out among Red Bank schools. Dentists from outside towns were also recruited to assist so children could walk home in their new shoes with dental supplies.

But this wasn’t an event that he has done before. After moving his store from Fair Haven to Red Bank, he said that he was left with an excess of children’s shoes. Rather than sell the shoes to a broker, he decided to give them away. He was inspired by something very simple: the people of Red Bank. “You drive around town and you look at the people’s feet and what they’re wearing, and people are struggling,” he said.

And when Ross discovered that he couldn’t provide some children with the proper shoes and sizes, he took his generosity a step further.

“He went out shopping afterwards,” said his wife, Sharon. “So the kids that he couldn’t get shoes for he went to Marshalls and bought them shoes.”

Ross said he was pleased with the outcome of the event and the support from the town. “I called the principal of the primary school and I think he initially thought I was crazy, thought it was a crank call,” he said. “I explained and he contacted the superintendent. It just worked out.”