Would you go for a run in flip-flops and jeans? The answer is more than likely no. Unfortunately, that is the reality for many area children participating in school running programs. A new local group is looking to fix that and needs your donations.

Michelle Neill noticed a need for running shoes while she was volunteering last fall with the cross country program at Lincoln Heights Elementary. Neill put out a request for gently used gear over Facebook. Shortly after shoes and shorts started showing up on her front door.

Soles4Youth was born and Neill, along with her friend Lesli Cleveland, wants to provide proper shoes and clothes for kids who love to run. They've partnered with Active4Youth who fund the fall and spring school running programs.

Are you looking for a community service project, a volunteer opportunity or a garden row or 2?

East Valley School Farm and Community Garden wants you.. to come get down and dirty.

Crops grown at the 5 acre farm are donated to 2nd Harvest and East Valley School District. So, when you help the garden, you help the community and students have the freshest produce available.

Students use the farm as their outdoor laboratory during the school year but as you can imagine, student participation drops dramatically in the summer months.

That's where you come in. Challenge friends and family, church groups, business partners to help. An hour working in the field with 20 people accomplishes the same amount of work it would take one person a week to do.

If you want to help, contact EV Farm to School and Community Garden Coordinator, Lynette Romney at momromney@earthlink.net or call 509-230-9436.