KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Shoes for School not only changed its location this year but also provided more resources to the community. It's all a part of the new era of Dr. Charles F. Lomax, Jr. leading the Knoxville Area Urban League.
Shoes for School offers a chance to prepare students for school by giving them a free pair of shoes, and school supplies. Some families are even getting a box of food from Second Harvest Food Bank.
Lomax Jr. said the amount of shoes being given out has almost doubled from last year.
"Obviously there's a need in our community, but I'm grateful that we're in a position that we're able to help meet that need. And so I'm excited about the growth that we've seen," said Lomax Jr.
This year's event was held in a new location inside the Jacob Building in Chilhowee Park. There were free haircuts for kids, a hiring fair and health resources available.
"As we look to build out and to grow, we're offering opportunities for people to advance in their careers," said Lomax, Jr. "We're offering opportunities for people to get information about health and health disparities that disproportionately affect the African American community as well as other minority populations."
Lomax Jr. said before he took on his leadership role with KAUL, he volunteered at the Shoes for School event. He said it's become a full-circle moment.
"I've previously volunteered with my fraternity and we came and handed out supplies over the years, and so it's great to be on this side of it as well to having been a volunteer on it, but also having been in a position now where I'm overseeing and running it, it really just has kind of come full circle," said Lomax Jr.