GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Middleburg resident Steven Smith wants to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to participate in sports.

Through his organization 4th Quarter Athletics, Smith, who the kids call Coach Smitty, is organizing group sports and providing equipment for the community in Green Cove Springs.

“They have a really close community [here in Green Cove],” Smith said. “You can see 40 or 50 kids outside at all times.”

After falling in love with the small town charm that he perceived in Green Cove Springs, Smith wanted to help the community and make sure every kid that wants to participate in sports has that opportunity.

“A lot of kids want to play and the price of the shoes keeps them from playing,” Smith said. “My goal is to take that worry off the table so that they can just play.”

Since last July, Smith has been collecting sneakers and cleats, shoes for every sport a kid could get involved in and in every size imaginable. Once the Baton Rouge, Louisiana native had about 325 pairs, he decided to go back to his roots and host a community-wide Mardi Gras celebration and give all those shoes away on March 3. Smith said they had over 175 register for the event and gave away more than 300 pairs of athletic shoes.

The event provided free pizza, snacks and drinks in addition to games of basketball and kickball at the Thomas Hogans Memorial Gym on Lemon Street. Smith could be seen among the crowd of people with a big smile on his face as he watched the community come together, with him, to help kids realize their full potential through athletics.

“I want to bring sports back to the Green Cove area,” Smith said. “We have some great talent here and I want to help showcase that talent outside the community.”

This event was the first of its kind for 4th Quarter Athletics, and going forward, Smith hopes to build on the success of this inaugural shoe giveaway. In his mind, this was the first of many events that he will host in trying to promote and facilitate athletics in the city.