Payless seeks charities for annual giving program

TOPEKA, Kan. — Payless ShoeSource announced that it is inviting nonprofit organizations to join the retailer in its big holiday giving program, Payless Gives Shoes 4 Kids, where it will deliver more than $1.2 million of free shoes to children of families in need across the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico and in 11 Latin American and Caribbean countries this holiday season.

Now through Oct. 31 Payless is inviting non-profit organizations located in the U.S. and Canada to apply at www.paylessgives.com. Charities in Puerto Rico, Latin America and the Caribbean will be selected in-country through a separate process. Selected partners will receive a quantity of shoe coupons to distribute to those they serve -- delivering the gift of new shoes to children that need them the most.

Now in its fourth year, Payless plans to give away approximately 50,000 pairs of new shoes in Dec. through a network of hundreds of localized charities. Payless teams up with local charities and gives these organizations free shoe coupons to give to the clients and constituents they serve, the company reported.

"Now in its fourth year, the goal of the Payless Gives Shoes 4 Kids program remains the same -- to provide a basic necessity, shoes, to children who might otherwise go without," said LuAnn Via, CEO of Payless. "The success of the program over the past three years, and the number of children and families we have been able to assist, continues to drive our efforts. Unemployment is still very high, affecting many families that still struggle to provide their children with important essentials. This is especially challenging during the holidays, and together with our hundreds of charity partners, we hope to make a bigger than ever impact this year."