SE: K-State Student-Athletes Donate 400-plus Pairs of Shoes to Soles4Souls
Apr 16, 2018 | Sports Extra, Athletics, Evans Student-Athlete Success Program
By Corbin McGuire
If there's one thing most student-athletes have a lot of, it's shoes. If there's one thing they do not have much of, it's free time.
The combination of these two factors made the K-State Student-Athlete Advisory Committee's latest initiative of a shoe drive the perfect idea.
In just over a month's amount of time, K-State's student-athletes donated 428 pairs of shoes to Soles4Souls, a non-profit that distributes gently-worn shoes to people in need in 127 countries and all 50 states in the U.S.
"It's just nice that one of our little ideas got some good response from the athletes because sometimes a lot of us are really busy and it's hard for us to spend a lot of time at one certain area, doing an event or something like that," K-State track and field senior Lukas Koch said. "This one seemed to be pretty popular."
K-State's total collection roughly equates to one shoe donated per student-athlete. The shoes will be driven to a location in Kansas City in early May. Anyone interested in donating before then can contact K-State academic counselor and SAAC Advisor Marissa Edwards at medwards@kstatesports.com.
"It's such an easy way to give back," said K-State rowing's Aubrey Gilchrist, who donated more than 10 pairs of shoes after going through her garage at home. "It was really cool to be able to do a small part and know it would affect someone's life so substantially, just to have a pair of shoes."
Each K-State team collected donations for the drive, with the Wildcats' rowing team running away with the friendly philanthropic competition by giving more than 200 pairs to the cause.
When K-State rowing senior captain Laura Clement first saw the collection box in her team's locker room, she was shocked by the overflowing amount of shoes pouring out of it.
"I immediately sent a picture to Marissa Edwards and was, like, 'Look how many shoes we got!'" Clement said. "One day I walked in and there were two huge boxes filled. People kept bringing bags and bags. It was insane."
The exact motivation behind donating depended on the student-athlete.
The inspiration for Koch, who gave away four pairs, stemmed from the dislike of waste, one of the missions of Soles4Souls. According to its website, its donations have helped keep 42 million pounds of shoes and clothing out of landfills since 2006.
"I think these shoes are certainly going to a place where it's going to benefit someone more than we could ever imagine. They are definitely going to be put to good use," he said. "I think it really helps people get on their feet. That's the main thing I think about, personally."
Clement pointed out a vital, yet maybe less thought of aspect of Soles4Souls. While the company collects millions of tennis shoes for general use, it also takes in professional shoes to provide for those in need to use for job interviews.
"That was the thing that made me realize this is really important, not only because we're helping people in need but it's also for people who are trying to better themselves and better their lives," she said. "They could use a hand getting to the point they want to be."
Gilchrist, on the other hand, referenced the rare times she walks around barefoot as her spark to give back.
"I just feel like I know am such a wimp when it comes to not wearing shoes. The ground, the gravel, things that I'm so privileged to have a pair of shoes on my feet for every day, all day," she said. "To know that some people out there don't and their feet could be cut up and who knows what just because they don't have a basic, almost necessity in a pair of shoes, I think it's really important that every person has access to that pair of shoes, as little as it sounds."
Like the many other philanthropic endeavors K-State's student-athletes take part in, this one provided an emotional boost in their busy lives.
"Events like this lift your spirits a little bit because you're, like, 'At least I'm helping someone. Maybe I missed this and maybe I didn't get to do that but hopefully this helps someone,'" Koch said. "It just feels good to give sometimes."
If there's one thing most student-athletes have a lot of, it's shoes. If there's one thing they do not have much of, it's free time.
The combination of these two factors made the K-State Student-Athlete Advisory Committee's latest initiative of a shoe drive the perfect idea.
In just over a month's amount of time, K-State's student-athletes donated 428 pairs of shoes to Soles4Souls, a non-profit that distributes gently-worn shoes to people in need in 127 countries and all 50 states in the U.S.
"It's just nice that one of our little ideas got some good response from the athletes because sometimes a lot of us are really busy and it's hard for us to spend a lot of time at one certain area, doing an event or something like that," K-State track and field senior Lukas Koch said. "This one seemed to be pretty popular."
K-State's total collection roughly equates to one shoe donated per student-athlete. The shoes will be driven to a location in Kansas City in early May. Anyone interested in donating before then can contact K-State academic counselor and SAAC Advisor Marissa Edwards at medwards@kstatesports.com.
"It's such an easy way to give back," said K-State rowing's Aubrey Gilchrist, who donated more than 10 pairs of shoes after going through her garage at home. "It was really cool to be able to do a small part and know it would affect someone's life so substantially, just to have a pair of shoes."
Each K-State team collected donations for the drive, with the Wildcats' rowing team running away with the friendly philanthropic competition by giving more than 200 pairs to the cause.
When K-State rowing senior captain Laura Clement first saw the collection box in her team's locker room, she was shocked by the overflowing amount of shoes pouring out of it.
"I immediately sent a picture to Marissa Edwards and was, like, 'Look how many shoes we got!'" Clement said. "One day I walked in and there were two huge boxes filled. People kept bringing bags and bags. It was insane."
The exact motivation behind donating depended on the student-athlete.
The inspiration for Koch, who gave away four pairs, stemmed from the dislike of waste, one of the missions of Soles4Souls. According to its website, its donations have helped keep 42 million pounds of shoes and clothing out of landfills since 2006.
"I think these shoes are certainly going to a place where it's going to benefit someone more than we could ever imagine. They are definitely going to be put to good use," he said. "I think it really helps people get on their feet. That's the main thing I think about, personally."
Clement pointed out a vital, yet maybe less thought of aspect of Soles4Souls. While the company collects millions of tennis shoes for general use, it also takes in professional shoes to provide for those in need to use for job interviews.
"That was the thing that made me realize this is really important, not only because we're helping people in need but it's also for people who are trying to better themselves and better their lives," she said. "They could use a hand getting to the point they want to be."
Gilchrist, on the other hand, referenced the rare times she walks around barefoot as her spark to give back.
"I just feel like I know am such a wimp when it comes to not wearing shoes. The ground, the gravel, things that I'm so privileged to have a pair of shoes on my feet for every day, all day," she said. "To know that some people out there don't and their feet could be cut up and who knows what just because they don't have a basic, almost necessity in a pair of shoes, I think it's really important that every person has access to that pair of shoes, as little as it sounds."
Like the many other philanthropic endeavors K-State's student-athletes take part in, this one provided an emotional boost in their busy lives.
"Events like this lift your spirits a little bit because you're, like, 'At least I'm helping someone. Maybe I missed this and maybe I didn't get to do that but hopefully this helps someone,'" Koch said. "It just feels good to give sometimes."
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