Mid-Michigan fitness store Playmakers and Naot footwear manufacturer Yaleet Inc. have teamed up to donate 120 pairs of shoes to two area nonprofit domestic violence programs.

From noon to 2 p.m. July 7 at the Lansing Police Department’s south precinct building, at 3400 S. Cedar in Lansing, 120 pairs of Naot shoes and sandals will be distributed to Michigan State University’s Safe Place and EVE, Inc. (End Violent Encounters), of Lansing.

“Footwear is a basic necessity that many of our clients do not have,” said Holly Rosen, MSU Safe Place director. “This kind of donation will be greatly appreciated by our clients.”

Naot footwear is manufactured in Israel and is one of the leading comfort footwear brands in the market. Since 1991, Yaleet Inc. and Naot have been donating shoes to people in need with the help of retailers. Women’s shelters, programs for hurricane victims, homeless shelters and drug rehabilitation facilities are charities that have benefited from the program. In addition, Yaleet Inc. makes generous contributions to the fight against breast cancer each year.

MSU Safe Place and EVE, Inc., provide shelter, advocacy, support and counseling services for victims of domestic violence. The programs also seek to end domestic violence through public awareness and community education. All services are free and confidential.

MSU Safe Place began offering services at MSU through the Department of Residence Life in 1994. This program was started by Joanne McPherson, the First Lady of MSU from 1993 to 2004. The only domestic violence shelter and support program on a college campus in the United States, it offers shelter to 65 to 90 adults and children annually. MSU Safe Place also provides training and education to more than 15,000 people on campus and in the Lansing community. To learn more about MSU Safe Place visit https://www.msu.edu/unit/safe/.

End Violent Encounters was founded in 1977. EVE, Inc., provides free residential and non-residential supportive services to victims of domestic violence, including a 24-hour crisis line; safe, temporary emergency shelter; family and individual counseling; advocacy; support groups; children’s programs; community education; and personal protection order assistance. They actively engage in educational and preventative efforts that reach thousands in the community. To learn more about EVE, Inc. visit http://www.eveinc.org.

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