AKRON, Ohio — More than 75 bags of food and 50 bags of pet food were handed out outside the ‘Just a Dad from Akron‘ storefront during the Fourth of July weekend.
It was a collaboration between the store, local clothing brand Future Motives and students and teachers at Innes Middle School in Akron.
They collaborated to make their community stronger.
“Two different perspectives, one purpose,” explained Travonte Junius, owner of Future Motives. “That’s how we try to go about it.”
Junius and ‘Just a Dad from Akron’ owner Kenny Lambert each have their own reasons for wanting to give back.
“Giving back to the community is huge for me because three years ago I was homeless, so I know how a lot of people that are less fortunate are,” said Lambert. “When I got sober and started the company, it’s like I got addicted to helping people and giving back to the community to make it a better place to raise my daughter and make it a better place for the families in the community.”
Junius added: “It took a village to get to where I’m at now, so that’s why I’m like, I have to do something to give back because I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the people that helped me.”
To make the day possible, Lambert got help from a group of 6th graders at Innis middle school.
The kids had a bake sale and raised $448 to go toward the food drive.
Teachers said their students learned a lot from Lambert.
“The next day he took them to Aldi‘s with the money so that they could budget and see what it’s like to gather the nonperishable items,” said Brooke Eliadis. “It was really cool. It was like a real life-situation. They took the metro. He helped them figure out bus timing and then how much money to spend and budget. It was a really good experience for them,” said fellow teacher Kaitlyn Trent.
More events aimed at giving back to the community are in the works for “Just a Dad from Akron’ and ‘Future Motives.’
You can track updated plans on their websites.
