Warm Hearts, Warm Boots

Athlete Leaders Go Above and Beyond to Support Isaiah 61 Café

What began as a simple goal—collecting 60 pairs of warm, waterproof winter boots—quickly grew into a statewide movement of generosity, leadership, and compassion.

This fall, the Special Olympics New Hampshire Athlete Leadership Council launched a community impact project: Warm Hearts, Warm Boots, a boot drive benefitting our friends at Isaiah 61 Café in Laconia. The café serves individuals who are unhoused or in need, offering meals, support, and a place of connection. Athlete Leaders visited the café and partnered closely with volunteer Laura Foley to understand which items would be most helpful as winter approached.

A Team of Athlete Leaders Making a Statewide Impact

The project was spearheaded by an incredible group of Athlete Leaders from across New Hampshire:

• Amy Spotts (Manchester Special Olympics)
• Brendon Zinck (Concord Golden Eagles)
• Chelsea Schultz (PLUS Pride & Nashua Special Olympics)
• Eric Retelle (Merrimack Tigers)
• Jeffrey Menard (Merrimack Tigers)
• Josh Janvrin (Derry Recreation Timberwolves)
• Karen Steele (Capital Area Cougars)
• Martha Boddy (Exeter Area Athletes)
• Meg Lantz (Claremont Cool Cats)
• Pam Langille (Concord Golden Eagles)
• Tori Gingras (Team Barrington)

Each athlete took ownership of spreading the word—reaching out to their teammates, families, friends, workplaces, and local communities. Their leadership inspired generosity everywhere it reached.

Boot Drive Boxes at Bowling: A Statewide Collection Effort

During our State Bowling Tournament, all nine competition sites—from Manchester to Laconia to St. Johnsbury—featured Warm Hearts, Warm Boots collection boxes. Athletes, families, volunteers, and spectators brought boots to donate, turning each venue into a hub of giving.

That statewide effort helped push the project beyond its original goal… and then far beyond that.

Goal Surpassed — Impact Expanded

With incredible support across the state, the Athlete Leadership Council didn’t just reach their goal of 60 pairs. They collected more than 100 pairs of warm, waterproof winter boots.

And once the goal was surpassed, the leaders weren’t done. They met again with Laura from Isaiah 61 Café to ask: What else would help our friends this winter?

The answer: backpacks, sleeping bags, and gift cards.

So, the team extended the project and invited attendees of the Cornhole Classic and the Champions Together Breakfast to support by bringing these additional items. Once again, the community showed up—proving that when athletes lead, people follow.

Brendon’s Story

Athlete Leader Brendon Zinck shared a powerful message about the project during the Champions Together Breakfast, reminding everyone that this work is personal.

Before joining Special Olympics, Brendon experienced periods of homelessness and knew what it felt like to face winter without the right gear. Through Special Olympics, he found friends, confidence, and stability—and now, he’s using his voice and leadership to support others facing the challenges he once knew.

His words captured the heart of this project:

“I know what it feels like to be cold… and I know what it feels like to be helped. And now, through Special Olympics, I get to be on the giving side.”

Brendon Zinck, SONH Athlete

Leadership in Action

Warm Hearts, Warm Boots wasn’t just a service project — it was Athlete Leadership in its truest form, built on the same skills athletes develop through sport.

In Special Olympics, athletes learn how to set goals, work as a team, communicate clearly, stay focused under pressure, and support one another. They practice perseverance, resilience, and problem-solving every time they step onto a field, a court, a lane, or a track.

This project put those skills into action.

• Setting a Goal: Just like training for a competition, Athlete Leaders set a clear target — 60 pairs of boots — and created a plan to reach it.
• Teamwork: Athletes from programs across the state collaborated, dividing responsibilities, coordinating outreach, and supporting one another through every step.
• Communication: They practiced speaking with teammates, families, co-workers, volunteers, and community partners to rally support and share the mission.
• Adaptability: When the project surpassed its goal, the team reevaluated the needs, adjusted the plan, and expanded the impact.
• Confidence & Voice: Many athletes, like Brendon Zinck, stepped into public-facing leadership roles — sharing personal stories, motivating donors, and representing their communities with pride.

Warm Hearts, Warm Boots showed that the lessons learned in sport become the tools of leadership in life. Athlete Leaders used their athletic strengths — discipline, courage, teamwork, and determination — to lift up others, solve real community challenges, and create meaningful change.

This is the power of Athlete Leadership: learning through sport, growing through community, and leading with heart.

Thank You for Supporting Warm Hearts, Warm Boots

To all who donated boots, backpacks, sleeping bags, or gift cards—thank you. Your generosity ensures that more than 100 people in the Laconia community will face the cold season with warmth, safety, and dignity.

To the athlete leaders: your compassion, creativity, and determination are changing lives. You didn’t just meet your goal—you grew it into something extraordinary.

And to Isaiah 61 Café: thank you for welcoming our athletes and partnering with them to strengthen the community you serve every day.

Warm Hearts, Warm Boots began with an idea.
It grew through leadership.
And it succeeded because of a statewide community that believes in the power of giving back.