KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — On Tuesday, staff from the Knoxville Area Urban League picked up more than 1,700 pairs of shoes for the organization's annual Shoes for School event. It starts at around 9 a.m. on Aug. 3, giving families a chance to get new shoes and school supplies for young students.
Workers from a local shoe store helped load boxes of shoes into a truck for the event.
"Shoe Carnival has been our partner from the very beginning," said Carly Hammonds, the Director of Education and Youth Services. "So that's 22 years worth of partnership. And we're grateful for that standing relationship because, as you can see, the event is growing and we have a ton of shoes. So, for them to be able to accommodate us has just been fantastic."
The shoes were unloaded at the Urban League's building and sorted by size and gender to be tagged and ready for Saturday's event. Hammonds said the prep work helps make sure the actual Shoes for School event goes smoothly.
"The week before the event almost feels like a crash course in all things — logistics, and really, just communication," said Hammonds. "But it's super important, wanting to ensure that ease of the day for our families, so it does not feel as if it's a burden. We wanna make sure that everyone who is a guest for the day is moving through the space with ease, confidence and is clear on where they can get the things that they need."
This year, around 1,750 pairs of shoes are being given out to kids which Hammonds said is almost double the amount from last year. She said this growth is showing there's a need in the community, but also shows Urban League partners are committed to helping.
"I think that the event growing acknowledges the fact that the Knoxville community has a need. And it also shows that our partners are committed to our mission, to ensure that our families specifically, our youth are well prepared and taken care of," she said.
Hammonds said both individuals and corporations can help out with the Urban League's event, making sure as many families as possible have access to school supplies and shoes for the first day of class.
"No matter what level of engagement you're in the Knoxville community, your help and your hand in this initiative is invaluable," said Hammonds. "I think it really just fills all of us with so much gratitude to know that the work that we see as valuable and necessary in our community is affirmed by our partners. Whether they be agencies, whether they be other nonprofits, whether they be sororities and fraternities in the community or even larger corporations."