Shoe-pal program?

[u/saltyhammercheese]

My wife is a fairly recent amputee of the front half of her left foot. One of our biggest challenges has been finding a pair of shoes that are comfortable, stylish, and stay on without augmentation (at least not major augmentation). As you might imagine, the Venn diagram for these shoes is pretty tiny already, but the problem is further compounded by the fact that we have to buy two pairs to get shoes for both feet. She is now a 7.5 on the left and 8.5 (or 9, depending on the shoe type) on the right.

Is there a program where people who are also mismatched shoe sizes can link up? Ideally, we would like to find someone with the same shoe sizes, but the opposite feet, or maybe (and more likely) there's a program we can donate the smaller right shoe and the larger left shoe to and people could buy the shoes individually for a cheaper cost?

I feel like this is just the type of "behind the backs of the corporations" linking up that the internet is supposed to provide for the ordinary humans among us. A sort of black-market style looking out for each other that the world needs more of.

If you know of any existing place like this, or would be interested in helping set one up, if none currently exists, please reach out here!

Thank you!

[u/Mysterious_Can_6106]

I started with all my toes being removed and ended as a below knee amputee. I had a blood clot so I did not heal after the toes were removed due to lack of blood flow.

The doctors told me they make some kind of insert in your shoe to fill the empty toe box, have you looked into toe prosthetics?

This is what meta AI came up with for shoe programs. I am just goi g to cut and paste it.. I hope you find it helpful.

• National Odd Shoe Exchange (NOSE) ○ The oldest U.S. program, founded in 1943. It's a 501(c)(3) that provides footwear for those requiring single shoes or pairs of differing sizes. ○ Mail donations or requests to: PO Box 1120, Chandler, AZ 85244-1120. Phone: 480-892-3484. ○ They prefer new or gently used shoes and match by size and width. 
• The One Shoe Crew ○ PO Box 285, Rio Linda, CA 95673. They run a match service: you register with size/width, they pair you with someone who needs the opposite shoe, and you split the cost. 
• Jo's Odd Shoes ○ A Facebook group started by UK amputee Jo O'Callaghan after her right foot amputation. It lets members browse and exchange single shoes that are unneeded due to amputation and illness. It's very active for peer-to-peer swaps, especially for fashion styles nonprofits don't carry. 
• OddShoeFinder.com ○ A marketplace where users buy and sell single shoes and mismatched pairs, usually for less than a full pair.  Retailers that sell single or split-size shoes If you want new shoes in a specific brand or model, these stores have formal programs:
• Zappos Adaptive (U.S., ships to Indiana) ○ Their Single and Different Size Shoes program lets you buy just one shoe, or two different sizes, from Nike, New Balance, BILLY Footwear, Converse, Stride Rite and others. You pay exactly half the pair price — no premium. ○ Single shoes currently run $17.50 to $85, with free shipping and a one-year return policy. 
• Nordstrom ○ Single-Shoe Service: select single shoes for $26 each plus $9 shipping per order. Call 1.877.543.7463. ○ Split-Shoe Service: buy two pairs in different sizes (must be 1.5 sizes apart, or 1 size + 1 width, or 2 widths different), keep the two you need, return the others for credit. 
• New Balance (direct) ○ Allows you to purchase left and right shoes of different sizes by paying full price for the first shoe and half price for the second. 
• adidas (Europe only right now) and Schuh (UK) ○ adidas launched an in-store Single Shoe service in 23 European countries, selling the required shoe at 50% of the pair price. ○ UK retailer Schuh offers single-shoe purchases at 50% off for customers with disabilities or limb differences. Useful if you order from UK sites or have family there. 

[u/kneedlekween → u/Mysterious_Can_6106]

Not OP, but you seem like a good person 😊

[u/saltyhammercheese → u/kneedlekween]

Am OP, agreed.