Area medical professionals on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic were the beneficiaries Monday of 450 pairs of shoes and compression socks donated by the Andover-based designer of Nurse Mates-brand footwear.
Haverhill Rep. Andy X. Vargas and staff of Nurse Mates, part of Sofft Shoe Company, distributed the shoes and socks to the Haverhill and Methuen campuses of Holy Family Hospital Haverhill and Lawrence General Hospital. Nurse Mates footwear is designed specifically to support nurses and other healthcare staff on long shifts.
“In this unprecedented time, we all owe so much to our frontline workers and healthcare workforce. We continue to find ways to ensure they have what they need and feel appreciated. I’m proud to partner with Nurse Mates, a service-driven business, to provide our medical professionals with the gear to make standing on their feet a little less arduous and heading home a little bit safer,” said Vargas.
Area hospitals plan to allow staff to use the shoes as facility shoes, which prevents them from wearing the same shoes when they go home from work.
“Nurse Mates has always been inspired by our community and continues to be during the COVID-19 pandemic. We have been reaching out to frontline responders to ask what is needed as this pandemic unfolds and are dedicated to working on ways we can help,” said Lizmarie Flores, on behalf of Nurse Mates.
Sofft Shoe Company has designed shoes and accessories for medical professionals for more than 60 years. Nurse Mates is donating more than $150,000 worth of shoes and compression socks to medical professionals across the United States.