Tuesday night in New Britain, a group of local foot care providers, including medical assistants Lori Engengrro and Doreen Smith from the UConn Musculoskeletal Institute, volunteered at the Friendship Service Center and the Salvation Army shelter to offer free foot health screenings as well as new pairs of shoes (or boots) and socks. About 40 people left with new, proper-fitting footwear, and another 50 pairs were left behind for others who may be in need. The shoes and boots were provided by Red Wing Shoes.

Our Hearts to Your Soles is an annual holiday-time campaign to provide shoes and foot care at homeless shelters and other service centers across the country. Dr. Michael Aronow, formerly of UConn Health and now in private practice, began UConn Health’s involvement in 2007 and has been the local organizer each year since.