By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
A long running shoe distribution program held by AFL-CIO Community Services in St. Joseph is behind in donations from years past.
The Soles 4 Christ shoe distribution event isn't until August 8th, but Executive Director Nichi Seckinger says even a week before the event donations are lagging.
"Usually by this time we have about 750 to 800 pairs of shoes donated and right now we're sitting right around 450 pairs of shoes, so we are really behind on donations so far this year," Seckinger tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "Not quite sure why, you never know, you just never know how things are going to roll out or why they are the way they are so questioning those things is usually a fool's errand."
Seckinger says while they need shoes of all sizes, there are some sizes that go quicker than others during the distribution.
"Sizes from kids' size 10 through adult size eight in both boys and girls' shoes, we go through those quicker than quick, some of our bigger sizes it takes a little bit longer for us to go through those," Seckinger says. "I can't really give you any one or two sizes we run out faster than the other, and it changes every year."
Tennis shoes can be donated for the distribution up until Friday August 4th, but if needed Community Services will take them up until the day of the event.
The shoe distribution even will be held August 8th and 9th from 9am to 7pm at the Scottish Rite Temple in St. Joseph.
Seckinger says many volunteers have already signed up to help with the event, but there's still more needed to do various jobs
"We do still have slots available for people to volunteer, and there's a lot of things volunteers can do," Seckinger explains. "They can help with crowd control, they can help register families, they can actually help the kids try on shoes and the fitting of the shoes,"
There are also volunteer opportunities in the storage room at the event, running and getting different pairs of shoes for kids to try on.
Seckinger says the event for volunteers spans four days with a set up day the day before the event and a tear down day the day after.