Bailey Schafbuch | Sports Co-Editor

Buena Vista University senior sports management major Jared Bruce is spearheading a campaign, Shoes for Sports, which will be held for a two-week period from April 29 to May 10, 2013.

Shoes for Sports is a public service project created to raise athletic shoes and equipment for athletes in the Storm Lake area whose families aren’t in a position to buy new athletic equipment.

Bruce’s idea for the service project came from his position of being a track coach for Storm Lake High School for the past four years. He has seen many athletes come through the program who aren’t well equipped for their sport.

“Being a track coach does play a part in my desire to help these young athletes. I hate seeing athletes not being able to perform at their best. Since Storm Lake is such a diverse community, we sometimes get families that just can’t afford to buy new shoes every year,” Bruce said.

Bruce himself has donated a few pairs of running shoes to his track athletes because athletes have tried to run in basketball shoes or even shoes with holes in them. In addition to Bruce’s donations over time, he went to Brown’s Shoe Fit in town and asked for their help with the campaign.

“I explained to them what the project was all about. They decided right away that they wanted to partner up with Shoes for Sports. Brown’s Shoe Fit has been in Storm Lake for as long as I can remember, and has always supported the community,” Bruce said.

“Anything that we can do for local children or adults, we’re all for it. Being a local business owner, anything that we can help out with is huge,” Stoltenburg said.

Donations of relatively new or gently used athletic equipment can be any sports gear imaginable, including: running shoes, track spikes, football cleats, volleyball shoes, tennis rackets, baseball gloves, or golf clubs to name a few.

The donated items will be distributed to schools in the Storm Lake area based on need.

“If Storm Lake High School needs 25 pairs of football cleats, and other schools only need a couple pair, then Storm Lake will get priority. I surveyed several activities directors and coaches in the area, and all of them agreed that this was the best way,” Bruce said.

Collection of the athletic equipment can be dropped off at a collection site at various locations in the area: Storm Lake High School, Storm Lake St. Mary’s High School, Alta-Aurelia Middle School, Brown’s Shoe Fit, and Buena Vista University’s Sieben’s Fieldhouse from April 29 to May 10, 2013.

Photo of Jared Bruce courtesy of Jared Bruce
Photos by Tyson Domingo