EKU Baseball Helps Provide New Shoes For Local Children on MLK Day

The Eastern Kentucky University baseball team served more than 50 local children by washing their feet and giving them a new pair of shoes on Monday. The event was part of the National Day of Service campaign by Samaritan’s Feet.

Another 100 local children that could not make it to Alumni Coliseum on Monday will receive shoes as well.

Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky Jenean Hampton, EKU President Michael T. Benson and Director of Athletics Stephen Lochmueller joined the Colonels in serving the local children.

After washing each child’s feet and fitting them with a new pair of shoes, the children, grades K-5, were able to test out their new shoes by playing games with the team.

This was the second year the baseball team has held this event.

During this National Day of Service campaign, Samaritan’s Feet expected to serve over 11,000 individuals in 22 cities and 14 states, mobilizing approximately 2,000 volunteers around the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday in 2018.

The event in Richmond was funded by EKU Head Baseball Coach Edwin Thompson’s barefoot coach fundraising efforts and a grant from Walmart for the state of Kentucky. The entire Samaritan’s Feet National Day of Service campaign is funded through a three-year grant that Samaritan’s Feet received from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency that leads the nation’s volunteering and civic engagement efforts, and Sanford Health who matched the grant.

To continue to raise money and awareness for Samaritan’s Feet, Thompson will coach barefoot against East Tennessee State on April 10. Thompson is the only known college baseball coach to coach a game barefoot to support Samaritan’s Feet’s efforts.

For more information on these events, visit SamaritansFeet.org/Together.

The Colonels are scheduled to open their 2018 season on Feb. 16 at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.

About Samaritan’s Feet International

Samaritan’s Feet is a 501(c)(3) humanitarian aid organization that serves and inspires hope in children by providing shoes as the foundation to a spiritual and healthy life resulting in the advancement of education and economic opportunities. The goal of Samaritan’s Feet is to create a world with zero shoeless children. Since its founding by Manny and Tracie Ohonme in 2003, Samaritan’s Feet and its partners have served more than 6.5 million people in 90 nations. For more information about Samaritan’s Feet International, visit www.SamaritansFeet.org.

— www.EKUSports.com —

Kevin Britton

Assistant Athletics Director for Communications & Branding