Dr. James Yakel of the Colorado Center for Podiatric Sports Medicine was out for a fall drive when he saw several people experiencing homelessness without shoes or with shoes that were falling apart. Knowing winter weather would be approaching soon, he decided to reach out to the community for help.
“I’ve seen people with frostbite and the loss of toes because of that,” Yakel said.
Yakel wanted to make sure no one went without a decent pair of shoes for the winter.
In its third year, Boots for Hope set a goal to reach 225 donated shoes. Last year they gathered 165 pairs of shoes and the first year they gathered 200 pairs of shoes.
“I’m just trying to make it bigger each year,” Yakel said.
Those willing to donate can drop off new or gently used shoes at Yakel’s office located at 1551 Professional Lane, Ste. 105, Brown’s Shoe Fit Company at 373 Main St. or Red Wing Shoes at 1240 Ken Pratt Blvd. Unit 1B.
The drive accepts shoes of all sizes for men, women and children, Yakel said.
“I’m overwhelmed by the generosity of the community to back this need,” Yakel said adding that in his first year, he expected only 30 pairs of shoes to be donated.
All donated shoes are delivered to HOPE located at 804 S. Lincoln St. HOPE distributes the shoes to the community and even shares them with partner organizations when enough are donated, Yakel said.
