The University of Central Missouri’s Talking Mules recently collected more than 400 pairs of shoes for distribution through the Johnson County United way. The drive was part of a community awareness and fundraising campaign on the UCM campus.
Warrensburg Mayor Donna DeFrain visited the group on the last day of the drive, donating the 300^th  pair of shoes. She praised the group’s efforts at reaching out to the community.
“UCM has had a long tradition of working with the community of Warrensburg to everyone’s benefit,” DeFrain said.
Jack Rogers, the UCM director of forensics and coach of the Talking Mules debate team, said the project was developed to teach life lessons to the team members.
Donors to the project also were provided the opportunity to make a financial gift to assist with defraying expenses at they travel to tournaments.
The group also decided to collect food for the ECHO program at UCM, a student program collecting food for weekend distribution to area children in cooperation with area daycare centers.
For more information on the UCM Talking Mules debate squad, you may contact Jack Rogers at [email protected].