Shoe Sensation of Poplar Bluff, Mo., celebrated its local team and community Sept. 20, part of an ongoing customer appreciation event.
The retailer provided a donation to local charity Sole Providers (see photo on 9A) and gave away a one-year lease on a new car to an employee.
"We are thrilled to be able to provide such an incentive for our employees, who exceed what is expected of them in order to drive our company's success," Dave Schoengart, CEO of SSI, said in a press release. "At the same time, it is important for us to share our success with local organizations who give back to our community."
Seven employees of the Mansion Mall location drew a key from a shoe box and had a chance to try it in the ignition of a new car, provided through a partnership with Larry Hillis Jeep.
Store manager in training Carinne Jones was the lucky winner and will get to select the model and color of her new vehicle.
To qualify for a chance to win the car, employees had to achieve set performance criteria and go above and beyond their normal responsibilities, according to the store.
This is the third car Shoe Sensation has awarded this month, and the fourth to be given away, representatives say.
Sole Providers board member Tucker Davis was also on hand to receive a check from Shoe Sensation.
The local charity has provided new shoes to children in need in Poplar Bluff for approximately a decade. The group had gone from providing 80 pairs of shoes a year to more than 250 pairs by 2014.
Sole Providers works with Bright Futures of Poplar Bluff to provide the shoes to students.