Two Thousand Steps Forward: DTLR Joins Give a Sole, Save a Soul for an Empowering Back-to-School Mission

Back-to-school season should be a time of excitement, pride, and fresh beginnings — and for thousands of students in Baltimore, it now comes with the confidence of stepping into the classroom with a fresh pair of kicks.

This year marked the fourth annual Give a Sole, Save a Soul back-to-school donation event, and for the first time ever, DTLR proudly joined forces with the West Baltimore-based nonprofit to make an even greater impact. Together, we helped deliver 2,000 pairs of shoes to local students — doubling the reach of previous years and deepening our shared mission of community upliftment.

More Than a Shoe Drive

This event is more than just handing out sneakers — it’s about providing young people with the confidence to take on a new school year. It’s about making sure every child walks into the building feeling seen, supported, and proud.

Founded in 2021 by Edward Johnson, Jr., Give a Sole, Save a Soul began with a simple but powerful idea: to restore dignity through footwear. Johnson has been collecting and reviving gently used shoes since the nonprofit’s inception, ensuring students in need start school with clean soles and lifted spirits.

This year, the energy and impact reached new heights. With DTLR contributing 1,000 new pairs of shoes and Give a Sole, Save a Soul matching that with 1,000 of their own, the event became a beacon of collaboration and care.

Community First, Always

“At DTLR, community is at the heart of our DNA,” said Tremayne Lipscomb, Sr., DTLR’s Community Outreach Director. “By elevating this event, we are able to help send 2,000 students back to school with shoes on their feet and their heads held high with confidence.”

And confidence, in this case, was delivered with a full-service experience. In addition to the shoe distribution, the event also offered 40 free haircuts — another key detail in helping students feel their best from head to toe.

To ensure fair access, students under 14 were required to attend with a parent or guardian, and those aged 14–17 needed a student ID. And in a special nod to academic achievement, honor roll students received two pairs of shoes — because excellence deserves to be celebrated.

A Lasting Partnership

What made this event so powerful wasn’t just the number of shoes distributed — it was the spirit of collaboration between two organizations committed to making a difference.

For DTLR, this partnership represents a new chapter in our ongoing commitment to serve local neighborhoods. By joining existing grassroots efforts like Give a Sole, Save a Soul, we’re able to amplify impact, elevate visibility, and help scale what’s already working in the community.

And for the students who walked away with fresh footwear and fresh cuts? They didn’t just leave with style — they left with a sense of pride and possibility.

The First of Many Steps

We believe this is just the beginning of what’s possible when brands and nonprofits link up for good. We’re honored to walk alongside Give a Sole, Save a Soul and look forward to continuing the journey — one pair at a time.

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