Legacy of Keokuk student lives on in Lucas’s Closet shoe donations

July 28, 2023 | By Muddy River News

Hibbett Sports store manager Tami Ingratta, store manager for Hibbett Sports, and The Crossing's Pastor A.J. Fuhrman display shoes donated to Lucas's Closet to be distributed to children in need of new shoes. | Photo courtesy of The Crossing

KEOKUK, Iowa — Lucas Nye, a sophomore at Keokuk High School, lost his life in a car wreck on Sept. 4, 2022.

Lucas loved life and was active in serving at The Crossing, but he also loved nice shoes. When he died, his family and church looked at a way to keep Lucas’s legacy alive.

Lucas’s Closet was established.

Staff at The Crossing started collecting donations of new name-brand tennis shoes in December, and in January, they started working with the staffs at each of the Keokuk schools. The goal was to give any child who needed shoes a new pair. Between January and the end of school, 36 pairs were distributed to children in need.

Hibbett Sports store manager Tami Ingratta contacted Pastor A.J. Fuhrman of The Crossing indicating that Hibbett Sports wanted to donate shoes to Lucas’s Closet. Hibbets donated 18 pairs of shoes to replenish the supply in Lucas’s Closet.

As a new school year begins, Lucas’s Closet will begin helping more school districts. Anyone who would like to donate new name brand shoes can drop them off at The Crossing at 610 Timea in Keokuk.