John Calipari, UK coaches traveling to EKY with Samaritan's Feet
John Calipari and a host of other coaches at the University of Kentucky are traveling down to Eastern Kentucky with Samaritan’s Feet to hand out shoes to flood victims.
10,000 pairs of shoes, to be exact.
The Kentucky men’s basketball coach announced Monday he would be making the trip with women’s basketball coach Kyra Elzy, men’s golf coach Brian Craig, women’s golf coach Golda Borst, women’s tennis coach Carlos Drada and STUNT coach Blair Bergmann on Tuesday.
Former UK basketball star Jack “Goose” Givens will also be making the trip.
“Thanks to a partnership with Samaritan’s Feet and Manny Ohonme, we are handing out 10,000 pairs of shoes in eastern Kentucky tomorrow,” Calipari announced. “I’m traveling down with fellow UK head coaches Blair Bergmann, Golda Borst, Brian Craig, Carlos Drada and Kyra Elzy, as well as Goose Givens.”
Calipari and the UK coaches will make two stops, starting at Jenny Wiley State Resort Park, followed by Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park.
“The shoes will be distributed at Jenny Wiley State Resort Park from 10am-2pm ET and Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park from 12:30pm-4pm ET,” Calipari said. “Our group will be at each location for the first hour that they are distributing shoes. We are here for you, Kentucky!”
Calipari has worked with Samaritan’s Feet throughout his time at Kentucky, most recently during the Wildcats’ trip to the Bahamas this month. The UK head coach and the entire men’s basketball team lined up to wash the feet of local Bahamian children in need and distribute new sneakers.
“It’s surreal. Just the fact of how truly blessed we are, not only being Kentucky players, but people from America,” Sahvir Wheeler told KSR. “Every year, Christmas or whenever, you ask for a new pair of shoes and you get it. Just looking at this, sometimes these kids don’t have that. Sitting here, getting a chance to know their name, learn what they want to be when they grow up, giving them a pair of shoes and seeing how that light of hope flickers in their eyes.
“It’s just crazy to think just how much of an impact we can have. It’s truly just a blessing to be able to give back and make change.”
Now, Calipari and several other UK coaches are lending a helping hand with Samaritan’s Feet in Eastern Kentucky on Tuesday.
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