Tahoma Wrestling is hosting a fundraiser collecting new and gently used clean shoes of all sizes and kinds, from flips-flops to combat boots.
They are working to reach their goal of 2,500 pairs of shoes.
They will then match, clip, bag and ship the shoes to a company that will use the shoes to teach less fortunate individuals in other countries to start a shoe business of their own in order to support themselves and their families.
Jen Kagan, a volunteer wrestling mom, researched opportunities to raise funds. Tahoma Wrestling has hosted many events in the past, with the hope to fundraise without asking for money. The fundraiser will help earn entrance fee money for the Tahoma Wrestling team to take every wrestler to weekend tournaments. Typically schools only travel with their Varsity and sometimes Junior Varsity, Head Coach Chris Feist insists on giving each wrestler on the team the attention and opportunity they are working so hard for. This year there are over 50 wrestlers.
Jen has been posting and promoting this fundraiser for an entire month. They had a successful Kick Off Event in October at the Maple Valley MOD Pizza, collecting 125 pair of shoes.
Jen’s son Hunter, a Junior at THS, has enlisted a new teacher, Mr. John Devlin, to mentor him for marketing and support. Hunter has made fliers, signs, written an announcement for the daily school bulletin and even put a drop box at Tahoma High School to encourage kids to donate shoes at school.
Several businesses in the community are helping by hosting Shoe Drop Off Boxes in their stores:
Washington Han Mu Do
Johnson’s Hardware
Physical Therapy for EveryBODY
Orange Theory
They are taking donations until November 30.
