Back to School Sneaker Giveaway 2026

Back to School Sneaker Giveaway presented by Ms. Aida, Team Beast Mode & Community Members like you! Must be registered to participate.
About this Event

Event Overview:
Back to School Sneaker Giveaway 2026 is for students in the Lancaster area attending kindergarten through 12th grade. You must register on Eventbrite to participate.

Details:
Date: Sunday, August 23, from 1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
Location: RichStich Embroidery, 42 W. King St., Lancaster, PA. You must pick up your sneakers. We will not hold sneakers. You must be registered on eventbrite to participate.

Event History:
My name is Aida Rodriguez, and I go by Ms. Aida. Just to give a little history of the Back to School Sneaker Giveaway, this started in 2020, and I will always give Ernell Harley credit because this was his idea. While working at Bright Side, this was one of my favorite give-back events that I oversaw. It became larger than I could handle on my own, and I recruited my friend Cheg from TBM Strength & Conditioning to help me out in 2024.

What started as a community effort to make sure students had a new pair of sneakers for the school year has grown into something much bigger than we imagined. Since that time, we have given, collaboratively, over 1,000 pairs of sneakers to students returning to school.

I am grateful to have my previous employer, Bright Side, and their fitness members' continued support, along with my TBM fitness community and my friends over at RichStich Embroidery for allowing us to host this event at their shop. I truly appreciate that they continue to support me and this effort. I could not do this event without their support or yours, Lancaster, this place we call home.

For the 2026 Back to School Sneaker Giveaway, I am excited to continue this tradition. This event is truly a reflection of what happens when a community helps community.

This giveaway is intended for students in the Lancaster area, with a special focus on students in the School District of Lancaster, from kindergarten through 12th grade.

Ways You Can Help:
There are several ways you can support this year's Back to School Sneaker Giveaway:

• Donate a brand-new pair of sneakers: We will have tags available with a student's name, sneaker size, and preferred sneaker brand. You can pick up a tag and donate a new pair of sneakers to a student preparing to go back to school at:
• • TBM Strength & Conditioning, 1148 Elizabeth Ave., Lancaster, PA
  • RichStich Embroidery, 42 W. King St., Lancaster, PA
  • BSOC Fitness Center, 515 Hershey Ave., Lancaster, PA
• Donate funds: Monetary donations help us purchase sneakers. Contact Aida Rodriguez. C: 717.990.8556 E: [email protected] for donations.
• Volunteer: We welcome volunteers to help us organize, prepare, and make this event a success.

Every sneaker, donation, and helping hand makes an impact. Thank you for continuing to believe in this mission and for helping our students start the school year with confidence, pride, and a fresh pair of shoes.