'Love, Mike Epps': Indianapolis students receive shoes, school supplies with actor's help

Matthew Akins zipped from one end of the noisy gymnasium to the next. Smiling broadly, he dashed through a crowd of children, parents and police officers, skipping with the bottled enthusiasm of a 10-year-old excited to have a new pair of shoes, and his were particularly special.

Fastened to Akins' immaculate new white sneakers was a homemade tag bearing the words, 'Love, Mike Epps.'

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Before he got famous as a Hollywood actor and comedian, Epps was just another kid attending after-school programs at the JTV Hill Center. He has fond memories being there, he said, but can recall when times were harder in the neighborhood.

"I was once a kid here in Indianapolis and I can remember when I didn't have shoes," Epps said. "And I was like, 'You know what? I want to make sure a kid gets a new pair of shoes this year.'"

Epps got his wish — so too did about 175 children Tuesday night during the "Back to School Essentials Giveaway," which supplied a select group of Indianapolis students with school supplies, tennis shoes, Bomba socks, t-shirts, toiletries and a free meal.

The event at the JTV Hill Center, 1806 Columbia Ave, was a collaborative partnership between Epps and the Community Engagement and Outreach Bureau of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, as well as other local organizations and businesses.

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As children picked out new clothing stacked neatly on tables in the busy gymnasium, directing traffic was Ida Williams, Commander of IMPD's Outreach Bureau. Williams said she spent roughly eight hours last Saturday helping to purchase children's shoes in sizes ranging from small to pairs fit for high-schoolers.

"I remember when my kids were that size," laughed Williams as music blared from a loudspeaker behind her. The new shoes, she said, were zip-tied together and labeled with each student's name to ensure each person received the correct sized footwear.

The students who received free school supplies and new clothing at Tuesday's event were selected from the Indianapolis PAL Club, United Northeast CDC, IPS #43, Young Men Incorporated and STR8UP. Collaborative support also came from The Great 8xcape, Coca-Cola, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and Changing Footprints, who provided free Bomba Socks.

Williams felt excited, she said, seeing law enforcement and the community coming together with a shared goal of helping students.

"We hope they know we care about them, and that they know we want them to have a great school year," Williams said. "We want to make sure our young people have what they need to be successful."

As the night wore on, Epps signed autographs, posed for photos and spoke casually with people. He encouraged students who sat in the gymnasium Tuesday to put their education first and, more than anything, to be kind to one another.

"Kids are dealing with a lot," Epps said later to media. "As we know, the crime is bad, and sometimes kids just need that extra push, that extra escalation. It's why I come back from California every year to help these kids."

Epps said he hopes next year's giveaway will grow into something bigger and will help more students.

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John Tufts covers evening breaking and trending news for the Indianapolis Star. Send him a news tip at JTufts@Gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Mike Epps, IMPD and others partner to help Indianapolis students