In September, Greenville High School 11th grader Alan Rios donated more than 60 pairs of brand new, brand name shoes for students in need across the district. Alan doubled his previous donation and provided over 120 pairs of new shoes. Thanks to his generosity, hundreds of students will be able to head into summer with new shoes made by brands they have dreamed of owning. 

When Greenville community members Cliff and Brooke Jones heard about Alan’s mission to give back to the GISD community, they knew they wanted to help. By matching his donation of 60 pairs of shoes, the Jones family helped bring the total donation to 120 pairs.

Click here to view more photos on the GISD Facebook page. 

When school returns in August, many parents are left pinching pennies to purchase a long list of school supplies, backpacks, and clothes for their children. Some parents are unable to afford the luxury of new shoes, much less brand names such as Nike, Puma, Converse, and Reebok. These brands can cost up to $80 for a single pair, leaving many students to rely on hand-me-downs or ill-fitting shoes. The shoes Alan provided, which range in size from toddler to adult, will help parents offset the cost by taking one more thing off their back-to-school shopping list. 

“Sneakers get overlooked when people have more important worries and I want kids to be able to receive a new pair of shoes when they need it,” Alan said.

Alan is always on the lookout for a good deal on shoes. He credits his bargain-hunting skills for making this donation happen. He used personal funds earned from the buy, sell, trade sneaker business he owns, Owl Resells, where he specializes in Nike, Jordan, Yeezy, and Adidas shoes of all sizes. He recently attended the Dallas Sneaker Convention in May, selling about 50 pairs to convention attendees. He sold 22 pairs before he even finished setting up his display table. If you’re interested in seeing the shoes Alan has in stock, check out his business Instagram @Owl.Resells. 

Thank you, Alan and the Jones family, for using your entrepreneurial talent and giving heart to give back to students in need, some of which may be sitting next to you in class. You truly are making a difference in our community, and we could not be more proud!