Students Start Summer Service Project
By: Jeanne Hanigan
"Cleats for ALL Athletes"
It was the Tuesday evening practice before the 6th grade weekend championship game in November. Lineman Josh Hanigan blew out his football cleats that night. With two more practices and one more game left, his parents didn't want to buy new shoes which Hanigan would have to break in and then outgrow before the next season. So, his parents emailed some friends who emailed some other friends. That Saturday, Hanigan donned 8th grader John Hilger's retired cleats, still sporting pink laces in honor of October's Breast Cancer Awareness month. The 6th graders went on to win their third championship that weekend.
With feet sizes increasing into the teenage years, younger athletes have quite a time staying shod. Hanigan and friend/former teammate Noah Fields decided to start a service project, "Cleats for All Athletes." Their mission: gather used cleats from all sports (baseball, softball, soccer, football, all-purpose) and then offer a place where youth athletes can trade cleats for a larger size or a different sport. For those teenagers or adults who donate larger sizes, they can receive chances per donated pairs of cleats to win a gift certificate to a local sporting goods store.
The two approached their parents about a collection site. Fathers Dennis Fields and Jim Hanigan, who own an indoor batting/ training facility, agreed to let their sons have a designated spot at their business. However, the boys needed to guarantee that all the collected cleats would find new homes rather than stay at the establishment. Starting June 1, Josh and Noah will accept donations at their respective schools (St. Charles Borromeo and Charles Wright Academy). High school junior Calvin Chandler (his younger brother Chase is also friends with the boys), agreed to manage the cleat dropoff box at Bellarmine Prep.
RedZoneSports (8313 27th St. W in University Place) will also accept donations from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. On Sundays and after-hour times, there will be a secure collection box.
In late June, athletes may trade or borrow the assortment of used cleats. Any cleats not retrieved will be donated to the Morgan Family YMCA or a local Boys/Girls Club.
These young organizers just hope that players can benefit from a pair of recycled cleats, just as Josh did back in November.
For more information, contact the Fields or Hanigans at RedZoneSports (253.820.9068 or 253.640.7034).
