BROOKINGS – Wednesday night's men's basketball game between South Dakota State and IUPUI features a special twist as head coaches T.J. Otzelberger and Jason Gardner will coach barefoot to draw awareness to the need for shoes both here in the U.S. and around the world as part of the annual Samaritan's Feet game at Frost Arena.
"SDSU and Samaritan's Feet have built a great relationship and we're excited to continue the tradition," head coach T.J. Otzelberger said. "Myself and coach Gardner are looking forward this humbling experience and the opportunity to make an impact on the world around us."
Samaritan's Feet is an international humanitarian aid organization that shares a message of love, hope and inspiration through washing the feet of children and adults and blessing them with a new pair of new shoes and socks.
SDSU and Samaritan's feet have paired up since 2009, with the first Samaritan's Feet shoe distribution in South Dakota taking place in January 2012 in Sioux Falls. Since then, almost 13,000 pairs of shoes have been distributed in SD at 29 different events held in Brookings, Sioux Falls, Watertown, Yankton, Rapid City and Pine Ridge.
"The culture at South Dakota State and within the Athletic Department is a blessing for organizations like ours," Denise Blomberg, Regional Director for Samaritan's Feet, said. "The willingness of coaches to humble themselves as servant leaders to use their platform to help us build awareness about the need for shoes here in our part of the country is a very powerful statement, demonstrating that this is not just a third world problem, but a first world problem.
Wednesday's game will also serve as a fundraiser for SDSU student-athletes who will be traveling to Haiti in May 2017 on a Jackrabbit FCA/Samaritan's Feet mission trip. The trip is an opportunity for shoe distributions and sports camps for children in the country.
"Mission trips give student athletes and opportunity to not only see another part of the world, and to serve, but something special happens when we unplug from our fast paced culture and get away," FCA Chaplain T.J. Carlson said. "It's an opportunity for student athletes to connect with God and with their teammates and deeper level, which transforms relationships on the field or court. A trip like this gives you a better sense of who we really are in the world, and helps define our purpose."
Fans can donate at Frost Arena on Wednesday or online at www.samaritansfeet.org/Jackrabbits.
Samaritan's Feet was founded in 2003 by Manny and Tracie Ohonme and since that time almost 7 million pairs of shoes have been distributed in over 78 countries and in over 325 US cities. The organization is based in Charlotte, North Carolina. There are also offices in Nigeria, South Africa, Brazil, Argentina, Hong Kong and the Philippines.
