ATLANTA--Georgia State head coach Ron Hunter and the crew from NBA on TNT partnered with Samaritan's Feet on Thursday at the KIPP Academy in Atlanta to distribute shoes and hope to children as a part of the #ThanksgivinginMay initiative.
Hunter, along with associate head coach Darryl LaBarrie teamed up with Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith to distribute shoes with Samaritan's Feet founder Manny Ohonme at the local school.
May 16 is the halfway point between last Thanksgiving and next Thanksgiving. The distribution was part of many events worldwide hoping that people will take a moment today to be thankful for what they have and try to make the lives of someone else better.
“From day one, I have said that as important as it is for us to help children throughout the world, we also need to help children in our own community,” commented head coach Ron Hunter. “To be able to team up with great guys like Ernie, Charles and Kenny makes a day like this even more special.
“We were able to give a great group of children a pair of shoes and hope, while bringing smiles to their faces. As always, it was a humbling experience for me and I am so thankful to be able to be a part of it.”
Hunter began working with Samaritan's Feet in 2008 and many other individuals in the sporting community, including the likes of Johnson joined shortly there-after. Samaritan's Feet hopes to distribute 10 million pairs of shoes to 10 million children in 10 years.
Hunter is a part of several events each year to help the organization with its cause. He coached his second 'Barefoot for Bare Feet' game since coming to Georgia State last January, coaching a game without shoes to raise awareness for the organization.
Last summer, Hunter took his team and coaching staff to South Africa for 10 days to distribute shoes. It was the sixth international trip for Coach Hunter since he began working with the group in 2008.
He also led the efforts as the NCAA helped distributed 75,000 pairs of shoes in Atlanta during the two weeks leading up to the Final Four in April.
Samaritan's Feet is an organization that distributes shoes to impoverished children around the world. Coach Hunter has been involved with Samaritan's Feet since 2008, coaching one game each season in his bare feet to raise awareness and funds for this worthy cause. Since 2008, he has helped the organization distribute shoes to two million children in need.
Hunter is expected to travel overseas for a shoe distribution later this summer. Details will be announced when they are available.
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