Posted: Saturday, February 20, 2010 9:08 am

Susie Herges has launched Donate a Pair — Show You Care and is working with Samaritan’s Feet, a national nonprofit organization working to collect shoes for children all over the world.

Herges’ effort will collect shoes for children in Haiti.

“This is probably the only pair of shoes that these children in Haiti will receive in their lifetime, and the shoes need to protect them from the pebbles and sand and broken glass and metal,” Herges said.

According to Samaritan’s Feet, more than half of the children in the world, nearly 300 million, will never own a pair of shoes.

As many as 10,000 children die daily of foot-borne diseases, injury and infection mostly preventable with a basic pair of shoes.

Herges decided to get involved with the cause after her brother-in-law Scott Nagy, who adopted a Haitian child four years ago, coached a South Dakota State University men’s basketball game barefoot and urged attendees to donate shoes to Samaritan’s Feet.

“When I saw what he did, it made me also want to help,” Herges said.

University of Nebraska at Kearney basketball coaches Tom Kropp, Kevin Lofton, Carol Russell and Fredrika Yalden agreed to coach barefoot during the Feb. 27 games against Colorado Christian University.

Those who attend the game can receive free admission if they donate a new pair of shoes.

The Tri-City Storm, Kearney Public Schools, churches and dozens of local businesses also have agreed to participate in the shoe drive.

“It’s a very worthwhile cause that we’re glad to be part of. Our organization is always open to partnerships that help those in need, and we’d like to challenge Storm hockey fans and others to step up and donate,” said Todd Gottula, vice president and director of communications for the Tri-City Storm.

People who attend Friday’s Storm game and donate a pair of shoes will receive two free ticket vouchers that can be used at any home game through April 4.

“Shoes are a basic necessity that no child should go without, and we can all make a difference by giving a pair. We’re hoping to get a wonderful response not only from hockey fans, but from the entire Kearney community,” Gottula said.

Students at KPS can bring shoes to school to donate or purchase shoes at mini shoe stores, which will be set up at schools. Kmart and Wal-Mart have supplied shoes at a discounted rate for purchase at the mini stores.

The average price of shoes will be $5.

 “This becomes really personal for them (students). They can bring their money to school and actually pick out the pair of shoes that they want to give to this Haitian child. I think that’s really meaningful rather than putting $5 in a basket,” Herges said.

Herges said although the act of giving is the main focus, students who donate will receive gift certificates to local restaurants and will receive tickets to a UNK Lopers basketball game or vouchers for Tri-City Storm games. They will also be eligible to receive other prizes such as home stereo systems, digital cameras, iPod accessories and designer handbags.

“What’s amazing to me is we’ve been able to set up this fundraiser so everyone can participate,” Herges said. “$5 is the price of a lunch when you go out. It would be hard if we were saying, ‘Go buy a pair of athletic shoes for $30’ but most people can find $5 to cut out of their budget.”

The mini shoe stores will also be set up at the UNK basketball games and the Storm game.

Good Samaritan Hospital has agreed to be the corporate sponsor of the campaign.

“Good Samaritan focuses our efforts on improving the health of our own community and the region that we serve, but sometimes when something like the earthquake in Haiti happens and we just see so many lives in jeopardy, we really feel the need to reach out in a more global way,” said Marsha Wilkerson, corporate communications director at Good Samaritan.

Good Sam will help Herges with funding for publicity.

“We feel very close to the Samaritan’s Feet effort, it certainly carries our namesake as we talk about making the story of the Good Samaritan a living reality, this is one way we can do that,” Wilkerson said. “Just by simply providing shoes, which is a very basic item, we can improve the health of an entire nation.”

The shoes will be sent to Samaritan’s Feet headquarters in South Carolina. Representatives from the organization will travel to Haiti and deliver the shoes to children in need.

Children are told a Bible story that deals with hope, faith and love while Samaritan’s Feet representatives wash their feet and give them new socks and shoes.

“I’ve been thrilled with the support of the businesses and individuals who are helping me with this. I started off doing this completely on my own, and as this has grown so quickly, it’s been wonderful to have people step up and say, ‘I can help you with this.’ I’m very thankful that so many people have seen the importance of this project. I hope people come out and bring shoes,” Herges said.

Athletic shoes or sneakers are preferred. Closed-toed sandals also are accepted.

The shoes must be new and can be sizes ranging from infant to teenagers. Herges said some adult shoes can be donated because some teenagers wear adult shoes.

Cash donations also are accepted. Money will be used to purchase more shoes and socks and to help with shipping costs. Donations can be made at any of the shoe drop-off sites.

Donations can also be made by texting SHOES to 85944. $5 will be added to your next phone bill and donated to Samaritan’s Feet.