SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Having a good pair of shoes is something that is important for children. It can give them confidence.
Rudy Navarrete understands what it’s like to not have the coolest shoes on the block.
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“Growing up when I’d get new shoes, they were always knockoffs, so yeah, they were new. But, you know, you didn’t fit in with your peers. You didn’t feel cool,” organizer Rudy Navarrete said.
Which is why Navarrete has made it his personal goal to get children the shoes they need.
“I’ve seen in the wintertime little girl with sandals on. I’ve seen kids with shoes, holes in them sizes too big, too small. So a lot of kids get their hand-me-downs from their siblings and are either worn or they get them. They’re too big. So yeah, there’s a real need,” Navarrete said.
This weekend, Navarrete is partnering with the crew at Severance Brewing to host a shoe drive fundraiser.
“So you come in on Saturday from 5 to 8 p.m., we’re going to have Rudy with his taco bar set up,” Severance Brewing Co-Owner, Scott Heckel said.
“We’ll be asking $10, free will donation, so if you can afford to get more than ten, that’s awesome,” Navarrete said.
In the past 6 years of the event, Navarette has been able to give out more than 1,000 pairs of shoes.
“There’s just a big need for this in our community. And as Rudy had kind of said, you know, there’s a lot of these kids probably have never had a brand new pair of shoes. So it’s great that they can go and pick out this brand name pair, something that can help give them some confidence when they’re going to school,” Heckel said.
“They put them on, they automatically run faster, jump higher,” Navarrete said.
It’s a simple gift that gives children confidence, as they take their next steps through life.
If you can’t make it to Severance this Saturday, Rudy will have other fundraisers in the following weekends, with the next one taking place at the Brandon VFW.
Click here for more information about this weekend’s event.