‘The Burg’s Got Talent’ set for Saturday

Think you are the best singer in Williamsburg? Want to help a local charity raise enough money to buy 100 pairs of shoes for area children this spring?

The B Squad’s newest project, “Nick’s Kicks,” is named for Nicholas Barman, who is the son of B Squad President Shannon Barman and B Squad Treasurer David Barman.

This Saturday you will have the chance to do both thanks to “The Burgs Got Talent!” which is presented by and is a fundraiser for The B Squad Project Inc.

In December, the B Squad raised about $15,000 and gave away 31 new beds, mattresses, sheets, a comforter, a pillow and more to 31 less fortunate children.

The talent competition will be held on Saturday starting at 5 p.m. at the Williamsburg Convention Center.

The competition will feature two age groups, including those 18 years of age and younger, and those age 19 and older.

Entry forms can be found online at www.thebsquadproject.com.

Contestants can register at the door no later than 3 p.m. Saturday.

There is a $15 entry fee for the competition.

Spectators will be asked to donate $2 at the door.

Judges will decide winners.

The winner from each group will receive a $50 prize and a trophy.

B Squad President Shannon Barman said so far six people have pre-registered, but she is expecting more people to register on the day of the competition, which is open not just to singers but other forms of talent as well.

All proceeds from the event will go to the B-Squad, which is a non-profit organization.

The B Squad was created in 2018, and organized to empower children and families by helping provide basic necessities, promoting literacy and instilling values and a sense of pride in themselves and their community.

Nicks Kicks

Saturday’s talent show will benefit the B Squad’s newest project, which is “Nick’s Kicks.” The goal is to provide 100 local children with name brand, customized shoes by spring.

The B Squad will raise the money to purchase old school Chuck Taylor Converse Shoes that will be customized by True Blue Customs out of Lexington. The company does custom work on shoes for many University of Kentucky basketball and football players, in addition to doing work for various celebrities.

On one side of the shoe the child’s name will be written, and on the other side “# BSquad” will be written.

The project is being done in conjunction with Shoe Sensation in Williamsburg. Jones Plastic & Engineering’s Williamsburg Division is one of several area businesses supporting the effort.

“Jones Plastics is a huge supporter for us! They are amazing,” Barman noted.

The “Nick’s Kicks” project is named for Nicolas Barman, who is the son of Shannon Barman and B Squad Treasurer David Barman.

“From an early age, we knew Nicholas was special. When he started preschool, we knew he was a little behind other kids, but we thought some of it had to do with him not having any interactions with people other than us, his parents,” Shannon Barman said.

When Nicholas went into higher grades, things started getting more difficult.

He began having tics when he was stressed or worried. Learning was hard for him because he couldn’t stay focused and he had other issues too.

At the suggestion of Nicholas school, Shannon and David had him tested in order to find out how better to help him.

“That’s when we found out Nicholas was on the spectrum. He is high functioning and from the old terminology, he has Asperger’s,” Shannon said.

During this time, Nicholas not only struggled with learning but also with bullying. People didn’t understand him. They bullied him for how he talked, and how he looked and didn’t understand him, Shannon said.

“Even though he went through all of that, he didn’t let that change his spirit. He is still the kindest, most loving and honest kid you will ever meet. He still struggles with feeling like he is left out or that people don’t understand him but that fuels him to want to help other people,” Shannon said.

“He wants to make it his mission to help kids feel like they are part of something and be a person that they can depend on. Nicholas loves shoes. I remember two years ago, he made us get these crazy chrome shoes because they were ‘awesome and he had to have them.’ So this is where we came up with Nick’s Kicks.”

Until B Squad members get shoe sizes for all the children, they won’t know what the exact cost of the project will be, but they anticipate it will cost about $8,000.