VCU news

By Brian McNeill

Virginia Commonwealth University employees, students and community members donated approximately 200 pairs of new or gently used shoes that will be provided to students in Richmond public schools.

Held during VCU’s MLK Week 2024 in January, the shoe drive was part of the 7-Cities Shoe Drive organized by Winter’s Place, a nonprofit founded by 10-year-old Winter Davis and her mother, Kendra Barner. On Friday, Davis and Barner visited VCU and helped pick up numerous boxes of shoes from VCU and deliver them to Armstrong High School and Henry L. Marsh III Elementary School.

The shoe drive at VCU was sponsored by a number of divisions at the university, including the Division of Community Engagement, the Office of Student Engagement and Leadership, the Office of the President, the Office of the Provost, the Office of Government Relations, the VCU Student Health Center, VCU Athletics, the Campus Learning Center and the VCU Police Department.

“On behalf of the MLK Celebration committee, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the incredible opportunity to collaborate with Winter’s Place 7-Cities Shoe Drive in partnership with VCU,” said Verenda K. Cobbs, senior manager for civic innovation and partnerships at VCU. “Working together with our VCU Division of Community Engagement MLK Committee Co-Chair, Stephen Davenport, and team leaders Kaylynn Hill and Micah White on this meaningful initiative has been a truly enriching experience, and we are grateful for the collective efforts that have made a positive impact on our community. We have been thankful to work with Kendra and Winter for such a worthwhile cause.”