Danville store donates shoes to Salvation Army

Although Capt. Allen Tanner of the Salvation Army brought a nine-passenger van to pick up shoes being donated by Rippe’s, after the 200 pairs were put in the vehicle, there was hardly room for Tanner and his brother Brandon.

“This is tremendous,” Tanner said. “We don’t get donations of this size too often.”

Rippe’s Shoes provided 110 pairs of its own designer merchandise with discontinued brands or styles, and an additional 90 pairs of comfort footwear by Naot — an Israeli shoe company distributed in the United States by Yaleet.

Yaleet agreed to contribute the shoes to the charitable donation on the condition that they would be given away rather than resold, according to storeowner Ben Rippe.

“We give to the Salvation Army with some regularity, when we have something we think they could use,” Rippe said. “We want to make sure we can get (the shoes) into the Salvation Army’s hands early so they will have plenty of time to distribute them.”

Rippe’s has a long tradition of charitable activity and annually gives to the Salvation Army, as well as hosts the Fashion Show Benefit for Breast Cancer.

To obtain a pair of the shoes, visit the Salvation Army at 123 Henry St., or call (434) 792-3963.

• Contact Traci White at (434) 791-7984 or .