Nearly 30 minutes before the doors opened, the line outside the WinSan Center at Mount Zion Baptist Church in Pleasantville already wrapped around the building. Families waited in the August heat, some armed with folding chairs, as the crowd continued to grow.
But they weren’t waiting for a doorbuster sale or concert tickets: They were waiting for sneakers.
Sole Scholars Foundation held its third annual back-to-school event Aug. 15, giving hundreds of local children new sneakers, school supplies and other essentials — all in the span of a few hours.
Founded by Pleasantville native and sneaker historian, collector and expert Darryl Glover, the nonprofit aims to help school-age children get a head start on the new school year.
Even with more than 60 volunteers pitching in, Glover and his wife, Carmella, barely seemed to stop moving once the doors opened. Following the event, Glover said he was feeling “grateful and thankful” for the response.
“It was really amazing to see such a great turnout,” Glover said. “We had a little over 900 kids in total.”
Last year, the event drew 522 registrants from 40 schools across 14 cities in Atlantic and Cape May counties, saving families a combined $130,000 in back-to-school expenses.
“My city is important to me,” Glover said. “The people who reside in my city are important to me, and I just want to give back and show them love. But the year-over-year growth has been very huge, and I’m really grateful for the partners who partner with me, the sponsors, the people who donated, but also the volunteers who are giving their time and hands and patience.”
For many families, the support offered some breathing room in the face of mounting back-to-school costs.
“For him to turn his passion into helping the community, I just think it’s amazing,” Ashley Ingram said. Ingram attended with her daughter, 10-year-old Charleigh Gilbert.
“He doesn’t have to do this, and he’s doing it,” Ingram continued. “All the kids are going to be happy to start school with a fresh pair of sneakers that their parents didn’t have to buy. And that can help the parent put that money toward something else, which is just so awesome for the whole household.”
Much of the event, Glover said, was inspired by what he would have loved to see at a community event when he was a kid.
This year’s event, themed “Passport to Possibility,” highlighted health, literacy, leadership, career pathways, college access, civic engagement, community support and more. Families could receive free haircuts, participate in a basketball clinic, have sneakers cleaned and connect with community organizations, among several other activities.
Before entering the sneaker room, families had to get their passports stamped at a minimum of five vendor tables. Those who collected every stamp earned an additional raffle ticket for a chance to win prizes. Kids also received $10 in “Scholar Dollars” for snacks and refreshments.
Sole Scholars board member Brittany Green said her goal was to connect attendees with the available resources while also helping “lighten the burden.”
“That’s the biggest thing here. In an urban community like Pleasantville, it’s extremely hard for the parents,” Green said. “I know how it feels to have that new pair of sneakers. I know how it feels to want to look good on my first day of school. And right now, people are trying to pick rent or groceries — they don’t have that in-between money for a school shopping list.”
AtlantiCare, which has participated since the event’s inception, offered health screenings and physicals provided by medical residents, extending the event’s support beyond back-to-school needs. John Brooks Recovery Center also brought its mobile unit.
“At AtlantiCare, our goal is increasing life expectancy,” said Christian Ragland, assistant vice president of health equity at AtlantiCare.
“You have to meet the people where they are,” he continued. “A lot of times people are either afraid to ask for help, or they don’t know where help is. Or they just simply need access. So, any opportunity where people like Darryl will open up a community space, we as a health system need to make sure we’re there as well.”
New sponsor Hachette Book Group’s Raising Readers campaign donated hundreds of books and highlighters while encouraging parents to pledge to read to their children for 10 minutes each day.
The event made room for older students, too. Down the hall, in a room overflowing with backpacks and school supplies, high schoolers gathered around a table stocked with free hygiene and skin care products while teen girls browsed a selection of new purses.
“This is my favorite part,” Atlantic County Institute of Technology student Ka’leya Rollins said of the skin care table.
Elsewhere, kids could make custom trading cards of themselves and take part in other activities.
But for many, the sneaker room was the main event.
Stacked wall to wall with shoes and staffed by volunteers from StockX and Foot Locker, children bounced excitedly outside the room, waiting for their turn.
Drawing excited oohs and aahs and cries of “Mommy, mommy, look!” were 200 pairs of “Piggy Runners” donated by Cincinnati-based UNHeardof Brand. The colorful Adidas sneakers came packaged in collectible boxes with additional goodies tucked inside.
“The owner and founder, Phil, I definitely want to give a huge shout-out to him. He’s been amazing,” Glover said, noting he donated both shoes and made a financial contribution.
“He drove from Ohio to Pleasantville just to meet with me. We walked the WinSan Center while it was empty a couple of months ago. He said, ‘Hey, I believe in this. I want to help you. What can I do?’”
Thanks to such generous partners, most left the WinSan Center smiling ear to ear, but their gratitude didn’t end at the door.
Glover said they received a lot of overwhelmingly positive feedback.
“One in particular, we got an email from a grandparent who is a guardian,” Glover explained. “She said, ‘I just want to thank you so much for helping my babies get ready for school. We really appreciate it. We appreciate the sneakers and the invite.”
Looking ahead, Glover said Sole Scholars hopes to expand its space, sponsors and volunteer services and partner with more schools throughout the year. Organizers also hope to add a sensory room for children with autism at next year’s event.
Several prominent sponsors made the event possible, including L’Oréal USA, Atlantic City Electric, Mitchell & Ness, Herr’s and Steve Madden. For a full list of sponsors, to learn more about Sole Scholars’ mission or to support the organization, visit 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.
