The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 brought with it a new awareness of the fragility of America’s health industry and the limited support system that is available for physical and mental wellness.

Recognizing these shortcomings, shoe brands and retailers have been using the power of their platforms — and their wallets — to benefit both the health community and their own employees, by launching charitable initiatives.

At the height of the pandemic, companies and individuals across the globe rallied behind health care workers, who were laboring tirelessly amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Though public attention has now waned, footwear brands continue to lend their support.

Over the course of a week in May, Crocs gave away a total of 50,000 shoes to health care workers who applied through its website. And earlier in the year, it teamed up with ambassador Post Malone and nonprofit Musicians on Call to donate 10,000 pairs of the Post Malone x Crocs Duet Max Clog II to caregivers and staff at MOC’s roughly 70 hospital partners.

Read the full article about public health by Jennie Bell and Nikara Johns at Footwear News.