HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — On Saturday, the Arkansas men's basketball team played a scrimmage and met fans in Hot Springs.
The team took time to serve the local community with an event organized by Samaritan's Feet International, a nonprofit, humanitarian, and faith-based organization.
"We're 21 years old, and we've served over 10.5 million shoes worldwide," said Alicia Morrow, a regional program manager for Samaritan's Feet International.
That number increased Saturday as kids in Hot Springs could come to the local YMCA and leave with fresh socks and shoes.
But before you wear new socks and shoes, you want your feet to be clean—and that’s where the Razorbacks come in.
The players and other volunteers helped wash the feet of the children receiving the shoes.
“We want to uplift people,” Arkansas assistant basketball coach Chuck Martin said. “We want to impact people. We want to try to give people hope.”
Even head coach John Calipari got in on the act, washing feet between meeting and posing for pictures with fans.
Calipari also spoke to the team right before the kids came in, encouraging them to engage and get to know each other, not just wash their feet.
“We're so fortunate to do what we do,” Martin said. “It's an opportunity for our guys to give back because we get so much from the university, our community and our families. Having this ability and this opportunity to give back is incredible.”
Attendees could also get a new coat outside the building if they needed one.
Morrow said Samaritan’s Feet International had partnered with Calipari before when he was at Kentucky, but this one was special.
"To do this first event here in Razorback country... it's exciting," Morrow said. "There's a lot of anticipation building up to it. We have a lot of volunteers. We have over 116 volunteers today, and we're just excited to welcome the Razorbacks in here to give back to the community."
The Hogs will hold a similar event on Sunday at 11 a.m. in Pine Bluff, giving away shoes to local children at 801 East 34th Avenue.