One of the most important factors that shape student experiences in schools is their physical appearance. No one understands the harsh realities of the fashion demands of the modern school system like the youth who live it every day.
The Sneakerhead Closet is what happens when a 16-year-old recognizes how fashion trends contribute to the creation of a caste system in schools between the haves and have-nots and decides to take matters into his own hands by creating an initiative that brings the heart and the sole to giving back.
Families struggling to pay for basic housing and food necessities can’t always afford to buy their children the latest sneaker trends or even a good pair shoes. Students from these families attend school worried about their appearance or whether they fit in with their peers.
Many, especially Sneakerheads, know how it feels to wear a new pair of good shoes or the latest sneaker trends! Research has shown it can boost confidence, improve self-esteem, and even influence how we interact with each other. Through the Sneakerhead Closet we are doing our part to level the playing field for disadvantaged youth by ensuring that all students show up to school with dignity and ready to learn, one pair of sneakers at a time.
Youth with clothing insecurity are nearly 2x as likely to stop attending school, resulting in increased dropout rates and a decrease in academic achievement. The Sneakerhead Closet gives disadvantaged youth a chance to be fully engaged in their education without feelings of shame or embarrassment with their appearance.
Less time spent looking for new shoes, more time to discover their true talents. Studies prove that students who feel good about their appearance channel more of their creativity back into their studies, creating a new generation of forward-thinkers.
We give youth fashion pieces, designer sneakers, that they can feel good about, shifting how they interact with those around them in a positive way that promotes uplifting conversations and supportive relationships.
A pair of high-quality designer shoes can really take you places. Our donations are here to support students during and after their school-aged years, giving them high-end closet staples made to last them through college and beyond.
Currently, 15 million students in the United States live below the poverty line. At the Sneakerhead Closet we are on a mission to give these students a running start at success with access to premium-quality designer sneakers they have always dreamed of and that many of their peers wear. While our initial footprint lies in communities in the Washington, DC, Maryland, Virginia (DMV) and North Carolina areas, we look forward to expanding our mission to other high-needs communities across the country.
Scope out your closet for any like-new designer sneakers you are ready to part with, including brands like Air Force 1s, Air Jordans, Yeezys, and other sought-after styles. No worries if you do not have sneakers to donate. We also accept monetary donations so we can purchase brand-new sneakers for the youth we serve.
Bring gently used sneakers to your nearest Sneakerhead Closet drop-off destination where they will be collected and distributed to disadvantaged youth in North Carolina, and the Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) areas.
Don’t live near a Sneakerhead Closet drop-off destination but have sneakers to donate? Check out our Partnerships page to learn about other ways you can contribute to this cause.
The Sneakerhead Closet is a fiscal sponsee of Fiscal Sponsorship Allies, Inc., an Indiana nonprofit corporation and recognized public charity under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3). Donations to Fiscal Sponsorship Allies Inc. for The Sneakerhead Closet are tax-deductible as provided in IRC § 170(c)(3) of the United States Tax Code. Your gift qualifies as a charitable deduction for your federal income tax purposes, to the fullest extent allowed by law.
