Coal Valley man aims to start charity for shoes for children

It nagged at the 42-year-old Coal Valley resident as his thoughts turned to the year past and the things he learned from children. He thought about the needs of kids who don’t have all the basics.

Hamerlinck remembered the times his family struggled when he was growing up. And he thought about his love for shoes.

The idea became Christmas Kicks for Kids, an effort Hamerlinck started just weeks ago. The goal is simple: get as many new and gently used sneakers as possible to kids.

He decided to start with kids in the East Moline School District.

Sitting inside the living room of his home just up the road from Niabi Zoo, Hamerlinck explained the origins of his idea.

“Back in January of this year, I had shoulder surgery and I was off work for a bit,” he said.

He has owned and operated Hamerlinck Construction since 2016.

“Kayla, my wife, was working at Wells Elementary school at the time and they needed volunteers to come in and spend some time with the kids during their lunch periods.”

Hamerlinck started coaching his sons, Ethan and Carter, when they were young and he enjoys spending time working with kids. He jumped at the chance.

“Some kids don’t have dads. For some kids, Dad might not be in the home or has a job that limits the time he has with his kids,” Hamerlinck said. “I could tell that a number of the kids really wanted that interaction because kids started asking to spend time with me.”

Hamerlinck learned some things while he volunteered.

“You hear about poverty, we all do,” he said. “But I started seeing it, right there, up close. The stories some of those kids told me were really hard too hear. Some of those stories broke my heart.”

Hamerlinck saw children lacking some of the basics — like shoes.

“I went to Orion schools and my parents always provided for us, but there were tough times. And even at Orion, shoes were kind of a status symbol or maybe a self-esteem thing, for kids,” he said. “And then I go to Wells, and I see kids who barely have anything.”

The kids he met at Wells stayed on Hamerlinck’s mind for a long time. A few weeks ago he started talking to his wife about a crazy idea.

“I started talking about getting shoes for the kids at Wells. And I thought maybe it was crazy. Unrealistic,” he said. “And Kayla said, ‘Just do it. Go for it.’ And I really like that.

“So here I am. I’m collecting money and shoes for the kids at Wells and the kids from schools in the East Moline district.”

Hamerlinck and his family got 15 pairs of shoes donated and raised another $900 from other family members and friends.

“The goal is to collect and buy through Christmas, then take the shoes to kids in January when they go back to school,” Hamerlinck said. “And then next year, I’m going to make this an official charity and I’m really going to go for it.”

Hamerlinck said some of his desire to help kids feel good about their shoes is deeply personal.

“I grew up with Michael Jordan as my idol. I love all the Chicago sports teams,” he said. “And I always wanted Jordans. Air Jordans.

“As an adult, I got a pair here and there. But I drank. I would go to the bar after work, or pick up my alcohol on my way home. And on January 15 here coming up, I’ll be six years sober. So now I buy myself some Jordans and I think about all the things I’m thankful for and why I don’t drink any more.”

Hamerlinck also wants share a feeling.

“I want my kids to want to help…