TravelCountry.com and Chaco Provide Footwear to Himalayan Communities

Consumers can turn in used but wearable footwear to TravelCountry.com online or in store and receive a 20% discount on a new pair of Chaco Sandals.

Altamonte Springs, FL (PRWEB) September 18, 2006 -- Outdoor retailer TravelCountry.com and sandal manufacturer Chaco team up to provide footwear to Himalayan Communities in dire need of foot protection. TravelCountry.com is offering a 20% discount on any new pair of Chacos (www.travelcountry.com/shop/Action/Vendor_Show/VendorId/23) to customers that trade in a used but wearable pair of shoes, sandals or boots. This effort, called the Chaco Recycled Shoe Program, is born out of Chaco's active involvement in creating a better world by improving the lives of individuals within it. The Chaco Recycled Shoe Program is available at TravelCountry.com online and in the store through September 30, 2006.

Once the program is completed, TravelCountry.com will deliver the collected footwear to Chaco. Chaco then checks and cleans the shoes and passes them on to the dZi foundation. dZi distributes the shoes to those in need through a network of monasteries, schools and safe houses in the Himalayan regions of Ladakh, Nepal and Sikkim.

"The dZi foundation does fantastic work improving the lives of indigenous mountain people through education, health and social programs. We're excited to be a part of the Chaco Recycle Shoe Program and are thankful Chaco gave us the opportunity to contribute" says Mike Plante, General Manager of TravelCountry.com. Like Chaco, TravelCountry.com believes that reusing and recycling are key initiatives for keeping the earth clean and sustainable.

Learn more about the Chaco Recycle Program offered at TravelCountry.com by visiting their Chaco Sandals (www.travelcountry.com/shop/Action/Vendor_Show/VendorId/23) page.

About TravelCountry.com

TravelCountry.com (http://www.travelcountry.com) is a wilderness outfitter providing gear for people who love adventure in the outdoors. Since 1981 they have provided gear and expert advice for pursuits ranging from kayaking and canoeing to hiking, backpacking and adventure travel. TravelCountry.com also contributes extensive resources to grass roots conservation and personal improvement causes ranging from the Sierra Club to the Extremity Games to the Coastal Conservation Association. General Manager Mike Plante states, "We believe in giving back to our community, that's why we contribute our money, time and gear every month to causes that conserve our natural resources and inspire the human spirit."

About Chaco

Chaco (http://www.chacousa.com) follows the three steppingstones to sustainability: profits, people and the planet. They strive to minimize environmental impact, better the lives of the people with whom they work. Chaco donates 3% of all after tax profits to non-profit environmental groups, including The Conservation Alliance, the Sierra Club, Leave No Trace and the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance. In addition, Chaco supports environmental efforts on an internal basis, Chaco switched from a solvent-based glue to a hot melt system which emits no toxic fumes, built a new facility that uses geo-thermal heating and has put into practice the principles of Lean Manufacturing to reduce waste and increase efficiency, as well as providing incentives such as paying employees to ride bikes or walk to work.

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