Bassett Center Executive Director Chris Battle said he feels blessed to have hundreds of pairs of donated shoes and other clothing items as the need for warm clothing increases.

The counterfeit boots, sneakers, hats and shirts were seized by authorities in February at The Stockyard Flea Market. It used to be that once the cases were adjudicated, judges would order the counterfeit items destroyed. But judges have recently realized that although the clothing items should not be allowed to be sold for profit, they can fill a need in the community.

“We see the need for adequate

clothing and shoes everyday with kids coming in with their toes coming out of their shoes or wearing shoes that are too small or too large because that is all they have,” Battle said. “I’m glad somebody had the thought that even though the production of these items was bad, they can be used for good.”

Battle said the shelter received a smaller donation of counterfeit items in May and was not expecting so much to be donated earlier this month.

“I never thought we’d get so many,” Battle said. “I thought maybe a 100 pairs or so, but we got 800 in all shapes and sizes. We pretty much have something to help anybody.”

He said he is especially grateful given the timing of the donation.

“You never know what kind of winter you’ll get in North Carolina – it could be a warm winter or it could be really cold with snow like last year,” Battle said. “It is really great to have these items available this time of year, especially the shoes because we have people come into our shelter all the time with inadequate footwear.”

When the center received the donation, Battle said they had so many items, he had to turn an office into a storage unit for them. He said they gave every person staying at the center’s two shelters a pair of shoes and still had hundreds left.

The remaining items are being distributed through the center’s clothing assistance program, which works with human service agencies like social services to identify residents with a need for the items.

“Before this program, we could not really verify the need very well,” Battle said. “We had new or nearly new items coming in, and we realized we needed to make the distribution more structured to target those truly in need and in crisis.”

He said some of the shoes and clothing also will go into the center’s Christmas packages.

“It is so good to see something positive come out of negative,” Battle said.