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Unemployed get unexpected gift - new shoes

Jennifer Frew | The News Herald

At right, Heels.com co-owner Linda McCoy helps Brooke Silver, of Valdese, select a pair of shoes during the shoe giveaway at the Employment Security Commision office in Morganton on Tuesday.

By Sharon McBrayer | The News Herald

Published: March 24, 2009

Morganton - Amber Bollinger stood with her mouth open and smiling on Tuesday at the Employment Security Commission in Morganton.
That's because Heels.com showed up there to give away lady's shoes. Heels.com is a North Carolina-based online shoe retailer. The company has been in business for a year and a half, say company representatives.
Company representatives arrived just after 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, surprising those who were there looking for jobs or filing for unemployment. The idea was to give away a new pair of shoes to women so they could wear them to job interviews.
"Being a bootstrapped startup, we know what it's like to work through adversity and against the odds," Heels.com spokesperson Linda McCoy said. "Our goal here is just to do what we can to help others work through their difficult period and hopefully bring smiles to a few faces in the process. During times like this, it is often the smallest things that make the biggest difference."
Bollinger was at the employment office in her tennis shoes she's had for a year, saying she hardly ever gets to buy herself something new.
While she was worried about finding a pair on Tuesday that would fit her, she left the employment office with some she said could go with jeans or a skirt.
"It's not everyday you come to the unemployment office and they're giving away shoes," Bollinger said. "It's just the coolest thing."
Brooke Silver has been looking for work for about two months. Her 4-year-old's needs come before hers, Silver said, so getting a new pair of shoes is something that will help.
"I wasn't expecting it at all," Silver said. "It's very appreciated."
Some of the shoes Heels.com brought were Dollhouse, Play House, Unlisted and Corkys. The company also gave gift certificates to the men at the employment office to give to their wives or girlfriends.
Heels.com came to Morganton at the request of Lena Davis, who does work force development for the employment office in Morganton. Davis said she called Heels.com to come to Morganton after she saw a shoe giveaway at the employment office in Charlotte on a TV newscast.
"I said if they can do it in Charlotte they can do it in Burke County, and I came in and called the next day," Davis said.
Davis knows what it feels like to be unemployed. She lost a job five years ago before finding a job at the employment office.
"I know the emotions of how it feels," Davis said.