Clary Hawes is on a mission.
He is collecting sports shoes for school-aged children in Grenada.
Last year, the North Bay yacht club helped Hawes fill a 45-gallon barrel full of school supplies destined for Grenada.
“They have good teachers and decent buildings for classrooms, but they have no school supplies whatsoever for teaching aids. We found that there are all kinds of supplies lying around people’s homes here, where kids have graduated and moved on,” said Hawes.
“So in the course of a few short weeks we filled the barrel and I sent it down to a school called Saint Louis Girls School in Grenada. The school goes up to grade 6.”
At the same time, Hawes donated a pair of track spikes, which changed the life of one little girl.
“I noticed they had community soccer pitches and around the pitches is a track. The national sport out of Grenada and mostly throughout the Caribbean is track and field. I saw many, many students participating, but in bare feet. I donated a pair of track spikes to a young 10-year-old girl and as it turned out she was an excellent runner. She won her school championship, went on to win the national championships and then went on to the West Indies and won a gold medal there. So that is a huge impact for one pair of shoes.”
Hawes was inspired to collect gently used sports shoes, to send to the children.
“My goal is to collect a 45 barrel drum full of shoes. I’m looking for shoes with cleats like ones used for soccer or track and field. I’ll also take gently used running shoes because there is cross-country running,” said Hawes.
“The look on the kids' faces when they get a pair of shoes to compete in track and field is absolutely priceless. They have a decent pair of shoes to go to school in, but that’s it. They only have the one pair. Nothing for soccer or track.”
Active Running in North Bay has agreed to be the collection point for the shoes for the next week or two.
“We know a lot of families have shoes that have been put to the back of the closet and are not being used. This would be such a great way to declutter and do a lot of good. The youngsters are a variety of sizes, so anything from kids sizes up to adults would probably fit somebody,” said Brenda Walsh.
Hawes will send ship the shoes around the first week of October.
“It takes six weeks to get there. I think right now I have about 30 pairs. My notion is we’ve all had kids grow up and participate in sports and the shoes are sitting in a box in the basement, and maybe only have been worn for one season, and there’s still lots of life left in them,” said Hawes. .
“I pay for the shipping and all of that. I just identified a need and thought I could do something about it.”
To arrange a pick-up or for more information, call Hawes at 343-333-9912 which in North Bay and area is not a long distance number. Or send an email to [email protected]
As Hawes puts it, “we do all kinds of things in life, but to be able to do something for kids is wonderful.”
