Governor goes barefoot
INDIANAPOLIS—Gov. Mitch Daniels stood barefoot in front of 60 pairs of shoes at a media briefing Friday as he introduced Manny Ohonme, founder of a non-profit organization fueled to provide shoes to those in the need around the world.
The shoes that were piled in front of Daniels will be donated to Ohonme’s Samaritan's Feet, which will give them to shoeless African children and to the Boys and Girls Club of Indiana.
“He is the first governor in the world to go barefoot,” Ohonme said of Daniels at the briefing..
Samaritan's Feet's goal is to provide 10 million people with shoes over the next 10 years by teaching them faith, hope and love biblically by washing their feet, and treating them to a new pair of shoes and socks.
PEN Products, a Prison Industries program on Indianapolis’s west side, is the largest warehouse for Samaritan’s Feet. At least a half dozen inmates at a time work to transport, prepare for shipment and receive the shoes.
“We’re constantly looking for ways to help people who are incarcerated learn a skill so they can be productive and law-abiding when they get done,” said Daniels.
IUPUI men’s basketball coach Ron Hunter teamed up with Ohonme and Daniels and said anyone wishing to make a donation can visit the website and donate $19 to buy a new pair of shoes.
Hunter said to get over 1000 coaches by the end of the week in participation. Butler University men’s basketball coach Brad Stevens and other high school and college basketball coaches across the U.S. will coach barefoot Jan. 17
Daniels said he was prepared to bring in several pairs of shoes but was told it would be better to make a donation so the organization could buy new shoes.
“Mine are pretty beat up. I tend to wear them too long,” said Daniels.
