Crocs and Caleres Donate Clogs, Shoe Covers to Barnes-Jewish Hospital Workers

Crocs Inc. has joined forces with Famous Footwear, owned by St. Louis-based Caleres Inc., to donate 2,000 free pairs of comfortable and durable clogs to The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital. In addition, Caleres has included 2,300 pairs of Dr. Scholl’s slip-resistant, protective shoe covers to help team members stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. The companies’ generous offer of the shoes and covers was made to The Foundation, which accepted them on the hospital’s behalf and coordinated their distribution to the health care workers.

”This gift comes at a critical time and the beneficiaries in the hospital facing this pandemic could not be more grateful,” said Susan Ell, vice president and executive director, The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital. “Caleres has been a generous donor to The Foundation for many years and we are grateful to add this gift to the legacy of its generosity.”

The Foundation helped to coordinate the two-day clog and shoe cover distribution, which began April 30. The shoes are being given to workers in more than 100 departments and hospital floors across the campus that include blood bank, dialysis, emergency, oncology, orthopedics, microbiology labs, pharmacy, radiation, surgery, and intensive care units.

“Caleres and BJC HealthCare have been friends for a long time. We are so fortunate to have such a world-class hospital system in our region, especially right now. As an expression of gratitude to the brave St. Louis health care workers who inspire all of us during this critical time, Famous Footwear is proud to partner with Crocs and BJC HealthCare so these local heroes don’t have to worry about comfortable, protective footwear and can focus on serving patients,” said Diane Sullivan, CEO, president and chairman of Caleres. “Because we can’t put ourselves in these brave health care workers’ shoes, we’re offering our support by putting them in ours.”

Andrew Rees, president and CEO of Colorado-based Crocs, said that over recent weeks, the company has been in contact with health care workers, who specifically asked for Crocs clogs in an effort to provide ease on their feet, as well as ease of mind as they need the ability to easily clean up before they go home to their families.

“The health care industry has always embraced Crocs, but our mantra of ‘be comfortable in your own shoes’ applies now more than ever, and we want to do what we can to help our nation’s heroes,” said Rees. “This is the least we can do for those working incredibly hard to defeat this virus.”

Crocs are popular shoes especially among health care workers who are on their feet for long shifts. The clogs are made from a soft, shock-absorbing foam resin that help wearers get through a busy day without any aches or blisters. They are in particularly high demand during the COVID-19 pandemic because the clogs are waterproof and can be easily washed off.

“The nurses, doctors and health care workers on the front lines are selflessly caring for and protecting our community every day,” said Molly Adams, president of Famous Footwear. “As a local company, we are honored to team up with Crocs and longtime partner BJC HealthCare to support the heroes in our own backyard with a new pair of shoes.”

Crocs’ Barnes-Jewish Hospital donation is part of the shoe company’s national initiative aimed at providing free clogs to workers on the front line of the COVID-19 battle. In addition to donating large numbers of shoes to medical facilities, it is also offering individuals free clogs through its website at https://www.crocs.com/COVID19-REQUEST.html.

You can support our frontline care givers and COVID-19 research by donating to The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital at foundationbarnesjewish.org/Covid19