Shoes, glorious shoes: Hudson woman donates 1,700 pairs to area nonprofits

HUDSON – Gail Kazlouskas hadn’t seen the back window of her Gambia Street garage in months. But the sun was shining through those windows again Thursday afternoon after the 1,700 pairs of orthopedic shoes that had filled the space since her husband’s 2011 death disappeared in a matter of hours. “It’s a relief to finally get these out of here,” Kazlouskas said, watching as dozens of people came and went with the boxes. Kazlouskas donated the new shoes to 25 Greater Nashua agencies Thursday, hoping they would help those who cannot afford them. Officials from the dozens of groups began showing up around 1 p.m., and less than an hour later half of the shoes were gone. Her late husband, Stanley Kazlouskas, owned Nashua’s The Downtown Cobbler, repairing and selling shoes out of its East Pearl Street location for decades.