Family Tides
It was a drive down the Garden State Parkway that became a pivotal moment for Darryl Glover, setting him on a course toward giving back to his community and changing lives in the process.
A sneaker historian, expert and longtime collector, Glover had been visiting schools regularly to share his knowledge of buying and collecting shoes. He started with career day visits, but the response from students was strong.
“I was transitioning from the medical field to the sneaker industry, but I had been collecting shoes since I was 12 years old,” said the Pleasantville native, whose sneaker collection numbers more than 1,000.
Over time, Glover’s classroom visits expanded. But it was before one of these events that he said he heard God telling him it was time to go home and give back.
“God was kind of like, ‘Hey, you’ve got to go back home and give back to your city,’” he said. “I called my mentor, and I was like, ‘God told me I need to give back. Can I use the church for whatever event I hold?’”
With the green light from his mentor, Glover hit the ground running and founded the Sole Scholars Foundation, turning his passion for sneakers into a platform for giving and inspiring local youth.
The nonprofit officially launched in 2024 with its inaugural back-to-school event. Its second annual event, held Saturday, Aug. 23, at Mount Zion Baptist Church in Pleasantville, drew a much larger crowd.
Shortly before the event kicked off at 11 a.m., Glover ran to Staples to buy more notebooks. When he returned, he said a line had formed around the building.
The difference from the first year to the second was “night and day,” he said.
In total, Sole Scholars handed out more than 1,000 pairs of shoes and 1,000 backpacks.
“The first event wasn’t huge; it didn’t get any press. It was very word-of-mouth. It was a struggle to kind of market it. But this year, we knew we had something, and I knew and I believed this one was going to be the one — and we prepared that way,” Glover said. “I’m really proud of the response overall, and that people were able to come and get the resources that they need.”
Back-to-school shopping can be a significant financial burden for many families. Glover noted that everything from co-pays for physicals to school supplies, haircuts, clothes, shoes, backpacks and lunch boxes adds up.
“We did the math, and we did the research — to get one child ready and prepared for school, it’s roughly $900. That’s clothes, that is sneakers, that is materials for school, notebooks, crayons, rulers, pencils, scissors. That’s the gas and tolls to go get those things, and that’s even more if you’re not getting it at one location,” he said. “To be able to provide that relief to parents is a big, big thing.”
Along with shoes and supplies, Sole Scholars distributed hygiene products and connected families with community resources. The NAACP assisted with voter registration, while New Jersey Courts offered help with record expungement. Wellness resources were also available from AtlantiCare and Shore Medical Center.
Some sponsors included StockX, Foot Locker, AtlantiCare, Shore Medical Center, iTouchEXP, L’Oréal USA and Steve Madden.
Kids also had a chance to get creative by taking part in a sneaker design contest or writing letters to their heroes. They could also get custom trading cards of themselves — an idea inspired by Glover’s childhood collecting sports cards and dreaming of seeing himself on a card.
“Just looking at those cards and dreaming about being a superstar, being a celebrity, and what comes with that — a nice car and a nice house and a bank account and being able to take your mom and your family and put them into a better situation,” Glover said. “That’s how it started. A lot of the events were very tailor-made to my childhood, what I had or what I didn’t have, or what I experienced or what I didn’t experience, and the trading cards spoke to my upbringing.”
Though the activities gave kids a chance to get creative, the event also gave them the opportunity to see how Glover channels his passions to inspire and uplift others, noting that he aims to be a positive light.
“The number one takeaway, and my strong belief is, when it comes to motivating, uplifting and inspiring, these kids can’t be what they don’t see. So, if they don’t see it, then how can they be it? To be somebody they can see and somebody that is accessible and reachable — they can come and they can touch me, and they can talk to me, and they can have a conversation with me. That’s what I want to be. Somebody they can see, and somebody who is a bright light in a city that has a lot going on.”
Already, Glover is planning for a “bigger and better” event next year, with more classroom talks throughout the year and giving, at a minimum, one $1,000 scholarship to a Pleasantville High School student.
He said those who want to support Sole Scholars can help by spreading the word, donating, volunteering or offering resources. He also encourages interested schools or teachers to reach out.
“I’m open to collaborating with anybody as long as it makes sense. I’m just here to uplift and empower,” Glover said. “I’m looking forward to being in a bigger and better situation next year.”
For more information, visit solescholars.org or email darryl@solescholars.org.
Madison Russ is an award-winning journalist, copy editor and adjunct professor of communication based in Atlantic County. An Ocean City native, Madison is passionate about telling stories that matter to locals, often spotlighting nonprofits and exploring the area’s vibrant arts scene.
