What better way to kick off the school year than by getting a new pair of shoes? The University of Tennessee is proud to have a long-standing partnership with The Knoxville Area Urban League (KAUL) to help provide new shoes for the youth of Knox County. 

Shoes for School is an annual event that provides children in the area with new shoes and school supplies. This 2023 school year was the event’s 21st anniversary. More than 2,000 pairs of shoes were distributed to the community’s youth.

KAUL is an economic development and social service organization that was created in 1968. The nonprofit, interracial community-based organization is a non-partisan based in Knoxville, Tennessee. The non-profit holds many events for the community, one of them being Shoes for School. 

This event allows young scholars in the area to feel confident going back to school. It is important that shoes and school supplies accommodate the youth’s educational experience. With the essential items provided, students can focus on their creativity and engagement within the classroom. The Shoes for School event provides the youth with the daily necessities to excel in the classroom.

UT ensures that all learning opportunities are accessible to scholars. Demonstrations of leadership and support are present campus-wide. The Shoes for School event gives UT the opportunity to engage with the community and show its support for education, on and off the campus. As a land-grant institution, The University of Tennessee’s mission is to assist and encourage the community’s youth to become future Volunteers.

View photos of the event here.