Claira Wilson, Comm 224, Story 5 – 364 words, Community, 3/26/2019, Non Profit/Religion
The Indiana Wesleyan University radio station is hosting a shoe drive to help at risk children in Grant County, March 18-31.
94.3 The Fortress is looking for ways to live out the stations tagline, “creating community,” through events like Kicks 4 Kids.
“In our staff meetings we have been thinking, how can we create community, and this is one way we thought of where we can go above and beyond just being a radio station,” Kayla Ruchti, promotions director for The Fortress, said.
All the new shoes and socks collected through Kicks 4 Kids go to The Training Center in Marion to help students who are unable to afford them. Drop off locations for donations include Elder Hall at Indiana Wesleyan University, The River Church, New Life Community Church, and Brookhaven Wesleyan Church.
“Anytime we can add value to our program, we are excited to do that. With Kicks 4 Kids, being able to give them new shoes or new socks helps build confidence in kids,” Mary Prows, executive director of The Training Center, said.
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The Training Center is nonprofit organization working towards creating a positive environment for children to grow. It is open for students grades K-12.
“The Training Center is an academic enrichment program that was created to partner with families of at-risk students. That risk can be academic, social, or physical, and for some of our kids it’s a combination,” Prows said.
For another chance to support the drive, the staff of The Fortress is also holding a contest on social media for the chance to win a gift card to Outback Steakhouse. Post a photo in crazy socks and add the hashtag Kicks 4 Kids for a chance to win while also aiding the cause.
“I think Kicks 4 Kids is a great chance for us to serve our community. I think we take shoes and socks for granted, we think of it as something everyone would have. Maybe we think of third world countries or somewhere else as somewhere we can serve, but we need to remember there really are people in need of basic things in our community,” Annika Peterson, freshman on 94.3 The Fortress, said.
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