NEWS
120,000 Winter Boots Donated by BEARPAW to UNHCR for Displaced Ukrainian Families in Partnership with Airlink and
Flexport.org
W
ashington, DC, November 1, 2022 – USA for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and BEARPAW, a global
leader in fashion footwear for men, women, and children, announced today that BEARPAW donated 120,000 pairs of new winter boots to aid forcibly displaced people in Ukraine. The gift represents the largest donation of winter boots to UNHCR’s Winterization Ukraine Emergency Response. This donation is expected to cover 20-25 percent of the population’s identified needs. With the assistance of established UNHCR partners in Ukraine, the winter boots will be distributed to families in five regions across the country.
“This donation doesn’t happen without dynamic, collective action and coordination among private sector and nonprofit partners,” says Ian Rodgers, Senior Director, Innovative Partnerships & Strategy at USA for UNHCR. “As temperatures plummet in Ukraine, these winter boots are arriving just in time for families who desperately need them.”
The principal motivation of humanitarian action is to save lives and alleviate suffering in a manner that respects and restores personal dignity. Priority is given to the most urgent cases. Shelter support is lifesaving for people who have lost their homes, and UNHCR provides essential items, including tents, buckets, blankets and sleeping mats. Yet, there is a significant need beyond these core relief items — and protective footwear in the winter is essential to staying dry and warm.
“It’s amazing to know these boots will directly benefit Ukrainian families in need during this challenging winter. Sacramento has one of the highest concentrations of Ukrainian immigrants in the country, and as a Sacramento-based company, we are proud to support our community of friends, family, and neighbors,” said Tom Romeo, Founder, and CEO of BEARPAW.
USA for UNHCR leveraged local and industry expertise to strengthen its emergency response. Through the creation of a new partnership with disaster logistics non-profit Airlink, the organization is better able to serve communities in crisis, forming a global logistics partnership. Through Airlink and their donor and digital freight forwarding partner Flexport. org USA for UNHCR received donated transport and logistics services to deliver the winter boots to Kyiv and Lviv, Ukraine.
“We are delighted to be able to support the vital work of USA for UNHCR by helping to deliver this critically needed shipment of winter boots,” said Steven J. Smith, President, and CEO of Airlink. “With winter rapidly closing in, the only way to provide at scale for the needs of the Ukrainian people is by utilizing the resources and expertise of the private and philanthropic sectors; bringing those parties together is one of Airlink’s key roles, and I’m glad we could play our part.”
Winter in Ukraine is harsh, with
temperatures regularly dropping below zero. Low temperatures and heavy snowfall make daily life difficult, particularly for families who have been forced to flee their homes. USA for UNHCR’s strategic approach to private sector and nonprofit partnerships has strengthened coordination with field operations to respond to areas where needs are most pressing. Humanity is the main driver for any response to a crisis. Following a request for children’s clothes and warm winter clothing, USA for UNHCR formed innovative partnerships with nonprofits to assist in the effort. The winter boots donation led to technical program support from My New Red Shoes (MNRS), a San Francisco Bay Area nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life and well-being of children and youth. MNRS coordinated more than 1,000 volunteers from Northern California to assist in processing cargo.
Expo Riva Schuh around the world T
he Expo Riva Schuh Wine Tasting and Innovative Ideas for the Footwear industry on November 2nd, 2022 at the Copthorne Tara Hotel, Kensington, London. Footwear Retailers from across the UK enjoyed an exciting evening of Wine Tasting and Innovative Ideas for the Footwear Industry this month, thanks to Expo Riva Schuh & Garda Bags in collaboration with the BFA.
6 • FOOTWEAR TODAY • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2022
Flexport.org donated transport and logistics services to deliver the winter boots to Kyiv and Lviv, Ukraine.
Flexport.org also provided social and environmental impact tools, including calculating and offsetting 100 percent of the cargo’s COÐ emissions through carbon offset credits. Partnerships with Airlink and Flexport. org are examples of how USA for UNHCR is improving the humanitarian response’s collective impact and scale.
“Continuing to fulfill the urgent needs for essential items in Ukraine is more important than ever, as winter approaches and temperatures drop in the area,” says Susy Schöneberg, Head of
Flexport.org. “Partnerships across private and public sectors enable a more effective humanitarian response, and we’re proud to be part of the collective efforts that USA For UNHCR is leading.” Businesses interested in supporting humanitarian response efforts with gift-in-kind product donations, please contact Ian Rodgers, Senior Director, Innovative Partnerships & Strategy at USA for UNHCR.
Footwear Retailers heard from some of the most innovative Italian businesses with ambitions to shape the footwear trade and support UK retailers. Wines were paired with business insights to transform networking into something special.
A good time was had by all!
The next editions of Expo Riva Schuh & Gardabags will be held in Riva Del Garda, Italy,
from 14 to 17 January 2023 and from 17 to 20 June 2023.
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