Nike Donates More Than 30,000 Pairs Of Shoes For Health Care Workers

The giant shoe company announced Monday it plans to donate 30,000 pairs of Air Zoom Pulse shoes to health care workers who have been saving lives during the coronavirus crisis. It revealed that the shoes would be distributed in various hospitals and health care systems in NYC, LA, Memphis, and Chicago. The company will also give some of the pairs to the Veterans Health Administration.

A Shoe For Everyday Heroes

According to the company’s website, the Nike Air Zoom Pulse is a shoe designed for everyday heroes like doctors, nurses, and many others who work tirelessly in the health industry. Information on the website also revealed that the sneakers have undergone rigorous product testing and also received insights from medical workers.

In a statement after announcing the news, the popular brand said Air Zoom Pulse is their first shoe designed with the health care athlete in mind. The statement also said that the fit, cushioning, and traction system of the shoes help keep the health worker’s foot secure in hospital settings. The company also revealed they considered the needs of medical professionals at the Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in Portland, Oregon, and Oregon Health and Science University while designing the shoes.

A Huge Pledge

The brand also saluted the health workers in its issued statement. The company said that Nike recognizes the physical and mental spirit of health care athletes. Nike also recognized the crucial role that health care heroes play in the global battle against the coronavirus pandemic. The company also said that it will donate another 2,500 pairs of Air Zoom Pulse to different hospitals in London, Milan, Barcelona, Paris, Belgium, and Berlin.

Nike has allied itself with Good360, a nonprofit organization that assists socially responsible businesses to distribute their donations to various sectors, to donate the shoes in the US. The brand also partnered with local organizations in Europe to help them distribute the sneakers overseas. The sneaker donation is part of Nike’s largest pledge to donate more than 140,000 pieces of footwear, equipment, and apparel worldwide amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Not Just Shoes

Nike also announced it will be giving away some 95,000 pairs of “mild compression” soccer socks. Like the Air Zoom Pulse, these will also be given to health care workers in Los Angeles and New York City with the help of Good360.

The shoe company had delivered in the past some 1,100 Nike Sportswear kits to health care workers in NYC. These include drawstring bags, water bottles, socks, and hats, or headbands. The brand also distributed an additional 4,000 pairs of sneakers and more than 3,500 pieces of Dri-Fit clothing in dozens of shelters and hospitals in Europe. The company disclosed that more than $5.5 million was spent on its global apparel donation.