Front Runner Athletics’ Laryssa Martinovich, bottom left, and Chad Varga, third from right, stand with Orange Grove employees Kelly Norman, Tommy Morris, Connie Mathis, Matt McGowan and Stephanie Allen, from left. Many of the Orange Grove employees’ shoes lacked the proper support for someone on their feet for much of the day, which spurred Varga, owner of the Hixson athletic store, to do something about it.Orange Grove workers at the DuPont Recycling Plant got a surprise recently when Front Runner Athletics brought its fitting equipment and donated new shoes for each of them.
Chad Varga, owner of the Hixson athletic store, said either he or his employees are at the center nearly every day to drop off recyclables, and employees of Orange Grove are always working to assist people.
“We just started noticing that the footwear they were wearing really needed an upgrade, especially as much as they’re on their feet,” Varga said. “It’s why we came up with this idea to fix everyone up here with some nice new shoes.”
The individuals served by Orange Grove at the center all have some sort of intellectual or developmental disability, and some are limited in verbal communication. However, both Varga and Danny Gravitt, a supervisor at the center, agreed the Orange Grove employees were incredibly appreciative of the gesture.
“It was a blessing that they did that for us,” said Stephanie Allen, one of the Orange Grove workers. “A lot of us couldn’t afford shoes like what we got. We’re really thankful.”
That thanks, said Varga, was all Front Runner needed, so long as the employees’ work was made easier with the store’s donation.
Allen said she and many of the other workers have already noticed a difference in how they feel after work thanks to the new shoes.
“They work so hard and are on their feet all day,” said Laryssa Martinovich, marketing coordinator for Front Runner. “We were happy to contribute.”
The Orange Grove employees at the DuPont Recycling Center have not been affected by the shutting down of Orange Grove’s sorting of single-stream recyclables. Orange Grove remains heavily involved in Chattanooga’s recycling program through staffing the city’s convenience centers, as well as the refuse collection centers.
Contact Shane Foley at sfoley@timesfreepress.com or 757-6506.