COLLEEN JURKIEWICZ

CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

For those who are homeless during the Wisconsin winter, something as simple as a pair of shoes can change everything.

The Sajdak family is conducting its annual Share-A-Pair drive, collecting shoes, boots and sneakers for men, women and children. (Submitted photo)

To bring warm, quality footwear to those who need it during these frigid months, Stan’s Fit For Your Feet is once again hosting its annual Share-A-Pair drive throughout the month of February, inviting donations of new or gently used shoes, sneakers and boots for men, women and kids.

The Sajdak family, who own Stan’s Fit For Your Feet and New Balance Milwaukee shoe stores, consider the footwear drive to be an extension of their Catholic faith.

“Just giving back to our community is an important part of our faith and our family. Loving one another, sharing with our community and giving back where we can through donations, service, talents and volunteering is important, and this is a way we can do that within our business,” said Megan Sajdak Holtan, director of marketing for Stan’s, the daughter of Stan’s owner Jim Sajdak and granddaughter of the business’ founders, Stan and Emerence Sajdak.

Jim Sajdak and his wife Susan, along with Holtan, are all parishioners at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Milwaukee. Susan Sajdak is a theology teacher and the chair of the fine arts department at Marquette University High School. The couple’s three sons — Andy (director of operations at Stan’s), David (director of merchandising) and Ben (director of community outreach and partnerships) — all graduated from MUHS, while Holtan is a 2005 graduate of Divine Savior Holy Angels.

With their Jesuit education roots running so deep, said Holtan, it’s always important for their family business to embrace the Ignatian philosophy of being “people for others.”

“That we can use our passion for shoes to give back to this community is really amazing,” she said.

Stan’s collects shoes for the needy throughout the calendar year, but for the last 14 years February has been set aside for the Share-A-Pair drive. Since its inception, the drive has collected more than 275,000 pairs of shoes from Greater Milwaukee residents. This year, Stan’s has a goal of collecting 25,000 pairs of shoes and as many pairs of socks as possible.

Items can be dropped off from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays, and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays at any of the Share-A-Pair collection bins at Stan’s in Brookfield at The Plaza at 17155 W. Bluemound Road; Stan’s in Glendale across from BayShore Town Center at 505 W. Silver Spring Drive; Stan’s in Greenfield in the Layton Plaza at 7405 W. Layton Avenue; New Balance Milwaukee store in Brookfield at 17155 W. Bluemound Road, Suite A; or New Balance Milwaukee in Greenfield at 7411 W. Layton Ave.

This year, the donated shoes, sneakers, boots and socks for men, women, and kids will be distributed locally to the Sojourner Family Peace Center, Hope House of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Rescue Mission, Repairers of the Breach homeless day shelter in Milwaukee and Father Gene’s HELP Center in West Allis. The remainder of the shoes will be given to Soles4Souls, a global not-for-profit organization that distributes shoes to impoverished people in more than 125 countries around the world.

Anyone donating will also receive $10 off their next regular-priced men’s and women’s shoe purchase, valid through the end of February at any Stan’s Fit For Your Feet or New Balance Milwaukee location.

For more information on the Share-A-Pair shoe drive, visit www.stansfootwear.com or call 262-432-4030.