Shoe Retailers Donate Footwear To VHC Front-Line Workers

ARLINGTON, VA — Virginia Hospital Center employees on the front line of Arlington's response to the coronavirus pandemic are going to be walking a little easier thanks to a partnership between two local footwear retailers and a Swiss shoe manufacturer.

Pacers Running dropped off 160 shoes Wednesday morning at VHC. The athletic shoe store is partnering with the Potomac River Running Store and ON Shoes, a Switzerland-based running shoe brand, to donate 5,000 shoes to front-line workers in the Washington, D.C. area.

On Shoe shipped approximately 2,500 shoes to each retailer, who will be working together to identify a list of organizations in the region that would benefit from a donation of the footwear. The list of organizations and individuals ranges from fire and rescue personnel, health care professionals, restaurant workers, delivery personnel, grocery store employees, community centers, and veterinary hospital workers.

“Pacers Running’s vision is to help as many people as possible through running, whether that is the activity of running or runners helping the broad community," said Kathy Dalby, CEO, and Chris Farley, Owner, Pacers Running, in a press release. "Supporting these organizations and our front line workers is ingrained in our ethos as a company and we are humbled by the partnership with ON and Potomac River Running. Small businesses are the backbone of our region and we are grateful for the opportunity to serve.”

Lakelya Keys, VHC's business and operations coordinator, said workers familiar with the On Shoe brand spoke highly of their comfort, when they heard about the donations.

“Our staff was super-excited when they found out about it,” Keys said. “This is going to be a big help. One of our nurses actually just broke her shoe yesterday. She’ll be able to replace it with one of these. That’s pretty cool.”

Patch editor Mark Hand assisted in the reporting of this story.

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