L.E. Phillips career center shows appreciation with shoe shopping at Scheels

Sep. 9—EAU CLAIRE — There's nothing like a brand-new pair of shoes, especially when they're free. For the employees of the L.E. Phillips Career Development Center, this is something they get to experience every year.

The CDC has been purchasing shoes for its employees for the past 10 years. This year, however, they took each of their employees to Scheels to pick out their own shoes.

The Career Development Center is a nonprofit organization that provides job training and job opportunities for individuals with disabilities or disadvantages.

The goal of the nonprofit is "to establish maintain, manage and support, through public and individual effort and appeal, a place for the employment of persons who are disabled or disadvantaged, and to provide a means whereby such persons can enter into a gainful occupation," their website states.

CDC President Gregg Mizerk, Development Coordinator Bonnie Geurkink and three CDC employees Sarah Rindal, Connie Alton and Ryan Wickert headed to Scheels on Friday morning to pick out new shoes.

Scheels and the CDC have been collaborating on this initiative for the past 10 years. Until this year, they purchased the same pair of shoes every year for everyone. But with the current supply issues as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mizerk said they wanted to find a way to make the process easier on everyone.

Mizerk approached Scheels and together they came up with the idea to allow employees to choose shoes in-store. Using Scheels' current inventory and allowing people to choose the style and fit they wanted, worked out well for both parties.

"We chose to try getting a voucher, someone could bring (them) to the store, they can pick what they want and that's actually been a really nice twist to it," Mizerk said.

Mizerk and Geurkink agree it provides employees with an opportunity to shop at a store they may not have been able to in the past and purchase brands like Nike and Under Armour.

Geurkink has been taking employees to Scheels since the beginning of September and estimates they will purchase around 200 pairs of shoes by the end of the month.

Each employee receives a $75 voucher, that is partially paid for by Scheels. The remaining amount is covered by revenue from CDC's manufacturing as well as donations.

"We're fortunate that we have a lot of people that believe in us in the community and the better we do as an organization we just try to give back to our employees," Mizerk said.

Employees are encouraged to purchase shoes that are practical and work-appropriate, but they don't have to be worn to work.

"It's all about choices and being able to pick out what you want," Mizerk said.

Mizerk, who joined CDC 11 years ago, said the initiative was launched when they wanted to show employee appreciation in a different way

"We just tried to really focus on the employees that we serve and the people we serve," Mizerk said. "To continue that effort of just making people feel working at CDC is something special and how we appreciate everyone that works there."

Rindal said she loves to walk and works in custodial for CDC, so she needs comfortable shoes. She was wearing a pair of Asics she had previously from CDC, but they began to wear out and had small holes in them.

She was able to find the perfect pair of boots that offered support that are still great for walking.

Both Wickert and Alton found athletic shoes that fit their personal styles. They enjoyed the shoes so much that they wore them out of the store. Wickert found blue and white sneakers that he hopes to switch the white laces out for orange, to express his love for the Chicago Bears.

The white shoes Alton had walked into the store with were able to be replaced by a brand-new pair of white New Balance shoes.

Geurkink said it's been a wonderful experience, being able to spend time with small groups of employees and gain relationships with all of them.

"It's being able to build relationships with everyone," Geurkink said. "They have such a nice variety and the people at Scheels are so wonderful."