Whether you're a fan of Valentine's Day, under a complete boycott or simply apathetic to a holiday devoted to flowers and chocolate, there's something going on in Milwaukee that will help you feel warmer and fuzzier than any bouquet of long-stems.
Stan's Fit For Your Feet is currently holding their sixth annual Share-A-Pair shoe drive this month, which gives Milwaukee-area residents the opportunity to donate their new or gently used shoes to benefit the area's homeless and those in need around the world. You can read more about their work and partnership with national non-profit Soles4Souls here.
Shoes can be dropped off at Stan's locations at 17155 W. Bluemound Rd. in Brookfield, 505 W. Silver Spring Drive in Glendale and 7405 W. Layton Ave. in Greenfield through Feb. 29. Stan's New Balance Stores, at 17155 W. Bluemound Rd., Suite A in Brookfield and 7411 W. Layton Ave. in Greenfield will also accept donations.
Each location will also feature part of "Homeless Not Hopeless, A Story of Empowerment," a special watercolor exhibit by local artist Rebecca Moczulewski which highlights the work that takes place each day at the Repairers of the Breach homeless day shelter, one of Stan's Share-A-Pair recipients.
And, as a special thank-you to donors, Stan's will offer a $10 gift card toward the purchase of a new pair of shoes through the end of the month (or $5 toward a children's shoe purchase for kids' shoe donations). A portion of these sales will also benefit Repairers of the Breach Homeless Shelter.
So, guys, upgrade your sneakers. Ladies, invest in that cute pair of heels. Or, just clean out your closets, give to a good cause and help someone else feel the love this month. It's a win-win.
Contrary to her natural state of being, Renee Lorenz is a total optimist when it comes to Milwaukee. Since beginning her career with OnMilwaukee.com, her occasional forays into the awesomeness that is the Brew City have turned into an overwhelming desire to discover anything and everything that's new, fun or just ... "different."
Expect her random musings to cover both the new and "new-to-her" aspects of Miltown goings-on, in addition to periodically straying completely off-topic, which usually manifests itself in the form of an obscure movie reference.