Taylor Gazaway shows off her new sneakers.
School has started, and everybody wants new shoes for the occasion. New shoes make you feel special. They give you a great start and a fresh perspective on the new year and all the promise it holds. But some children come from homes where buying new shoes for the start of school is not an option.
That’s where Shoes for School comes in. A service of the Knoxville Area Urban League in partnership with Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Shoes for School provides new tennis shoes and school supplies for children in need. Local community organizations such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley and the YMCA handle pre-screening eligibility, and the children get a pair of shoes selected specifically for them.
The 2014 event, now in its 11th year, provided shoes to 1,500 children and school supplies to many more. Organizers estimated more than 4,000 people were at Caswell Park earlier this month for the festivities. And it really was a festival-type atmosphere, rather than a feeling that the kids were receiving charity.
Because I am on the Board of Directors of the Knoxville Area Urban League, I attend this event every year. It never fails to choke me up a little as I watch the kids open the boxes and look at their beautiful new shoes for the first time. We truly live in a generous and caring community, and this event proves it. If you’d like to join the Urban League, click here.
The day always starts with a balloon release.
City Councilman Dan Brown, also a former mayor of Knoxville, read a proclamation naming it “Shoes for School Day” in Knoxville. Urban League President and CEO Phyllis Y. Nichols is at left.
There they go!
Caswell Park was packed.
All kinds of games were set up to pass the time until groups of children were called to get their new shoes.
I liked the “strong man” challenge.
Of course the inflatables were popular.
Who doesn’t like a slide?
Denso brought robots!
Here’s another one.
Denso also provided book bags.
Firefighter Justin Bailey let kids climb into his truck.
TVA gave away water bottles.
Frisbees were at the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital booth.
Nathan Ware of U.S. Cellular helped distribute school supplies.
My fellow Urban League board member, Orlando Diaz, vice president of Partners Development, did the same. He was assisted by Carleigh Brown, left, and Katelyn Bruce.
Urban League Board Member Al Pirie, who is vice president of human resources for Uster Technologies, applies dots to the hands of children who have picked up their school supplies.
From left, City Councilman Finbarr Saunders; Tim Romero, Urban League board member and regional vice president of Enterprise Holdings; City Councilman Dan Brown; and Urban League CEO Phyllis Nichols stopped to pose for a photo.
Then, Phyllis had to run off to do a TV interview with Rachel Downs of WBIR, at right. In center is Natalie Lester of Moxley Carmichael. The Urban League is a pro bono client of Moxley Carmichael.
Knox County Schools Superintendent Dr. Jim McIntyre, center, dropped by. He’s an Urban League board member, as well. With him are Tim Romero from Enterprise and Urban League CEO Phyllis Nichols.
Circuit Court Judge Deborah C. Stevens is an Urban League board member. Here, she is being interviewed by Mike Brown of M&M Productions USA for a video about the Urban League.
Gwendolyn Brown, an Urban League board member and president of Brown Pearman Russell, LLC, staffed a school supply tent.
Home Federal Bank employees, from left, Kim Woods, Lauren Guigou and Julie Crutchfield, also gave out a slew of supplies.
Working the Pellissippi State booth were Kathryn and Ted Lewis. He’s vice president of academic affairs at the college.
The Young Professionals handled the food stations. They were serving hot dogs at 9:30 and, by 10, had given away 500 bags of popcorn. From left, Katoya Branam, Alex Brownfield and Lydia McCoy.
Snow cones were popular, too, as you can tell from the tongue of Bella Powell!
But here’s what makes it all worthwhile. Gabrielle and Donovan Washington open their shoes.
Anna Jose
Click here for WBIR’s coverage of Shoes for School. Click here for the News Sentinel’s.
Looking good again this year.
Thanks Cynthia for showing how this community comes together to meet the needs of our kids. What we can’t show are the hundreds of individuals who so generously support Shoes for School. Knoxville cares!
Phyllis: You are so right. This event just gets better and better. I just wish that so many Knoxville children didn’t need to take advantage of it.
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