(AllHipHop News) Last year, community activists were outraged when the Chicago Police Department got caught leaving a “bait truck” in a mostly black neighborhood in an attempt to ensnare kids into stealing sneakers. Vic Mensa’s SaveMoneySaveLife and other nonprofit organizations counteracted the CPD’s “Operation Trailer Trap” by giving away over 10,000 pairs of shoes to people in the area.
Mensa and SaveMoneySaveLife are now joining forces with Chicago Bears linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski to present a shoe drive this fall. The sneaker-collection phase of the operation will run from October 3 to October 31.
The footwear will be distributed between November 2019 and March 2020 at special monthly gatherings. For the “Giving Events,” Mensa and Kwiatkoski are set to coordinate with handpicked youth services focused on underserved schools, housing, advocacy, homelessness, and gun violence.
SMSL also set up an Amazon Wishlist for people to contribute sneakers, sweatshirts, and school supplies online. In addition, the “Vic & Nick Shoe Drive” is raising money via a GoFundMe campaign. The current goal is to collect $25,000.
“I’m excited to announce my partnership with @n_kwiatkoski in support of The Second Annual @SaveMoneySaveLife Shoe Drive. Together, our goal is to donate over 20,000 new pairs of shoes for Chicago Youth directly affected by homelessness and gun violence,” wrote Mensa on Instagram.