New shoes on, old shoes out. Photo by Pasos Oak Cliff via Facebook.
Pasos For Oak Cliff knows one of the most important school supplies is a new pair of sneakers. As the summer fades into fall season, the non-profit hosted a Back To School Sneaker Festival on July 29 with hundreds in attendance.
Couple and co-founders Jesse Acosta and Alejandra Zendejas shared their love for sneakers and the value of education with the community this past weekend at Kimball High School.
According to the organization’s Facebook, “Kiddos were allowed to browse through the different shoes and pick. Additionally, we provided backpacks, school supplies, and other educational resources to students and parents.”
Smiles were all-around the school’s gym as students tried on their new sneakers, adjusted their backpacks, and collected markers, pens, notebooks and more.
This was the first time Pasos For Oak Cliff organized an event like this, and hopes to continue to combat certain inequalities within education.
As educators themselves, Acosta and Zendejas have noticed that students with worn-and-torn shoes tend to experience bullying or miss out on class more. This festival was just one of the pillars of the non-profit: lifting up others.
Pasos for Oak Cliff identified kids by working with elementary schools who were struggling with basic supplies such as backpacks and specifically shoes.
The festival was sponsored by WingStop, the Dallas Mavericks, Methodist Health and Stop Prop and Party. Schools such as Dallas College, UT Dallas, UT Austin and programs such as A Sister’s Legacy, Dallas Police Department, and Dallas Public Library set up booths for families to swing by.
Acosta’s goal was to serve 1,000 residents and got close- about 700 to 800 came through.
“Yesterday was truly an experience!” the non-profit said.
