By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
OLEAN — Feet Heat 5 is underway!
The Church Without Walls has begun its annual drive to collect quality sneakers for area youths. This year’s goal is 1,000 pairs of sneakers.
Pastor Tyrone Hall said is excited this year as Feet Heat 5 kicks off. There will be a lot of smiles with 1,000 pairs of sneakers for kids from kindergarten to 12th grade.
This year, a letter explaining Feet Heat — the free sneaker and Bible giveaway Sept. 1 at the church — is being mailed out this week to members of the Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce.
“Exchanging Soles for Souls” is the theme of Feet Heat 5, Hall said in an interview earlier this week at the Church Without Walls, 1803 W. State St.
The sneakers will be distributed at the church service on Sept. 1, starting at 10 a.m., Hall said.
“Over the years, there has been such a great outpouring from our community,” Hall said. “We are looking for that again this year.”
Recently, Hall said a young boy came up to him and said, “‘Look Pastor. I’ve still got my Feet Heat on.’”
Those sneakers were given to the youngster last September, Hall said. That’s why we ask for quality sneakers. They can keep those smiles on their faces.”
Hall said the idea for the sneaker giveaway came because many of the children coming into his Hall of Fame Barber Shop, 309 W. State St., were either barefoot or wearing well-worn shoes or sneakers.
“I said, we have to help these kids so they don’t get bullied,” Hall recalled. Now it’s part of the Church Without Walls’ regular outreach to the community.
Last year the Greater Olean Association of Churches recognized the ecumenical contribution of the Church Without Walls’ Feat Heat outreach in a ceremony at the St. Elizabeth Motherhouse.
“This is number 5,” Hall said. The number represents grace, he explained. “Thank God. We are doing this by the grace of God. This is our biggest outreach yet.” The earlier efforts sought a more modest 500 pair of youth sneakers.
“The goal is Soles for Souls,” Hall said. “These are some very tough times for families. We are trying to help. I’ve seen mothers cry when their children get a new pair of sneakers. They look forward to this.”
Hall said people may drop off new sneakers at the Hall of Fame Barber Shop or at the church. There is also a Cash App to make donations: $gettothecross!
