Sneaker & School Supply Giveaway Aims to “Inspire and Uplift” Pleasantville Students
BY CLYDE HUGHES | AC JosepH Media
PLEASANTVILLE — What began as a small back?to?school idea has grown into one of Atlantic County’s most impactful youth events. On Saturday, Pleasantville native Daryl Glover will host the third annual Sole Scholars Sneaker and School Supply Giveaway at Mount Zion Baptist Church’s Winsan Center, offering students and families a full “passport to possibility” as they prepare for the new school year.
The event runs Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and everything — from sneakers to school supplies to physicals — is free.\
Glover, born and raised in Pleasantville, said Sole Scholars has expanded far beyond what he imagined when he founded the initiative.
“This is the biggest year yet,” Glover told Front Runner New Jersey.com. “I founded this company pretty much just to motivate, uplift, and inspire the people where I come from. This event has kind of grown and took a life of its own.”
A One?Stop Shop for Students and Families
This year’s event includes an extraordinary lineup of services and giveaways designed to remove barriers for families and help students start the school year strong.
Free Physicals for K–12 Students
One of the most significant additions is free physicals for children in grades K–12 — no insurance, no copay, no appointment needed.
“We’re going to be taking care of all of that and just giving out free physicals for kids free of charge,” Glover said. “They don’t need any insurance. They don’t need any money. Anything, free physicals.”
Glover said the goal is to help families who cannot afford copays, lack transportation, or face long wait times for doctor appointments — especially students who need physicals to play fall sports.
Sole Scholars has partnered with AtlantiCare to bring back its health and wellness station, offering blood pressure checks, blood sugar screenings, and other services for parents and grandparents.
The event also includes:
*Record expungement services from the New Jersey court system
*Voter registration with the NAACP
*Energy assistance enrollment with Atlantic City Electric
*Home weatherization and repair qualification — with eligible families qualifying for up to $14,000 in home upgrades
“There’s tons of families who qualify for assistance with their electric bills,” Glover said. “We’re here to help them.”
Sneakers, Apparel, Hygiene Products, and School Supplies
Thanks to major national partners, Sole Scholars will outfit students with brand?new sneakers, clothing, and supplies.
Partners include:
Foot Locker
JD Sports
Snipes
Adidas
StockX
Mitchell & Ness
Steve Madden
L’Oréal USA / Kiehl’s
Students will receive:
Sneakers
Apparel
Bookbags
Hygiene essentials (shampoo, lotion, deodorant, lip balm)
Notebooks, pencils, pens, scissors, and more
“We’re going to be feeding these kids as well,” Glover added. “Be giving out free haircuts as well.”
Growing Impact
The event’s reach has expanded dramatically:
Year 1: Served just over 100 students
Year 2: More than 500 students
Year 3 (Saturday): Preparing to serve over 1,000 students
Glover said the response from the community has been overwhelming.
“I hope that they know that somebody cares for me. Somebody’s thinking about me,” he said. “Hopefully that kid can one day say, ‘Hey, this is what Darryl did. I want to come back and do something bigger.’”
This year’s theme — “Passport to Possibility: Stepping Into Your Greatness” — reflects the event’s expanded focus on leadership, literacy, career pathways, civic engagement, and college access.
Students and families will be able to visit stations including:
Family Wellness
Reading & Literacy Activation
Basketball Clinic
Custom Trading Card Booth
Letter to Your Hero
Pathways to College
Hygiene Essentials
School Supply Stock?Up
Sneaker Pick?Up
Record Expungement
Refreshments and more
The event is supported by a wide network of sponsors including Foot Locker, L’Oréal USA, Rothman Orthopaedics, Wawa, Herr’s, Atlantic City Electric, JD, Pepsi, Steve Madden, Snipes, Raising Readers, and others.
Powered by Community
More than 80 volunteers from across the community will help run the event.
“I love my city. My city means the world to me,” Glover said. “My goal is to put Pleasantville on the map so the whole world knows where Pleasantville is — and they see Pleasantville in a positive light.”
Event Details
Sole Scholars Sneaker & School Supply Giveaway Saturday, August 15, 2026 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Mount Zion Baptist Church – Winsan Center 353 S. New Road, Pleasantville, NJ
Everything is free for students and families.
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