Kids 'Go good' with new sneakers
Running Shoes 4 Kids provided four Lakes Middle School students with new sneakers Wednesday with their Go Good program. From left: Seventh grade Ellie Holm, program founder Colene Hotmer, sixth grade Drew Hammond, eighth grade Andrew Hammontree and sixth grade Damian Bosson.
ELLI GOLDMAN HILBERT/Press
Seventh grade student Ellie Holm tries on new sneakers at Lakes Middle School Wednesday. Four students were able to choose from a selection of brand new sneakers as part of a program by Running Shoes 4 Kids, a local program that has been serving Kootenai County since 2012.
Lakes Middle School students Andrew Hammontree, left, and Damian Bosson, peruse new sneaker options. The event was part of a program called Running Shoes 4 Kids, that has been providing incentive for students to "go good," for the past 12 years.
Sixth grade Lakes Middle School student Damian Bosson thinks hard about which new sneakers he'd like Wednesday. Bosson and four other Lakes students received new shoes as part of a the Running Shoes 4 Kids program. For the past 12 years, the program has incentivized local students with the promise of earning new running shoes. Part of participating is that kids pledge to "go good," and to empower other students, teachers and parents by being helpful, not hurtful, founder Colene Hotmer said.
COEUR d’ALENE — For sixth grade Lakes Middle School student Damian Bosson, the brand new black Nike sneakers with a trademark white swoop were the "perfect fit." Bosson, and four other Lakes students were each awarded a new pair of sneakers thanks to a program called Running Shoes 4 Kids, that was founded by Athol resident Colene Hotmer in 2012.
Hotmer arrived at Lakes Middle School Wednesday morning with a selection of running shoes in each child's size.
“I’m a Nike person,” Bosson said after he’d carefully made his decision.
The students spent many lunch periods running laps, said sixth grade teacher Kristin Odenthal. Students earned a ticket for each lap and were able to put them into raffles of their choice. Running Shoes 4 Kids provided sneakers, while other organizations donated bikes, volleyballs, basketballs, T-shirts and other prizes.
Bosson put all his tickets in for the new sneakers, he said.
Hotmer was inspired to start the program 10 years ago when she was coaching cross country. She noticed that many of the children had heavily worn sneakers or had no athletic shoes at all. She uses the new sneakers to encourage kids to “go good,” she said.
“The only requirement of taking these shoes is one thing,” Hotmer told students Wednesday. “You have to follow this mission. Especially this summer because you’re not going to have any teachers telling you how to be or how to act. And that is to go good, right? Because I know you guys know how to do that.”
Hotmer encourages students to define what going good means, for themselves. For some it is being kind at school, or making healthy choices about how to spend their time.
“That’s what Running Shoes 4 Kids is trying to empower you kids to do, to go out and empower other kids, parents and teachers to go good. To be helpful, not hurtful," Hotmer said.
Part of the Go Good program is a community fun run scheduled for Saturday, July 23, starting at 10 a.m. The 5K run is an all-day event for all ages. Visit runningshoes4kids.com for information, to register or to make a donation to the organization. The event takes place at Volunteer Park, at 5601 Jefferson St., in Spirit Lake.
Not a runner? There are volunteer opportunities, and other activities to enjoy. There will be prizes, live music, a car show, local vendors and a kid zone packed with activities, Hotmer said.
Hotmer visited Spirit Lake Elementary on Wednesday afternoon to award 25 more students new sneakers. Spirit Lake, where several of Hotmer’s own children attend school, is one of the first schools that Running Shoes 4 Kids worked with, she said.
To date, the program, which is in need of sponsors, has distributed more than 1,000 pairs of new sneakers across Kootenai County and has produced more than 88 community events.
