Panthers fans typically flock to the BB&T Center with plastic rats in hand – but on Tuesday night, many will carry shoes to the arena as well.
No, they’re not to throw on the ice – they’re going somewhere much more important.
Andrew Cohen, a local sixth-grader and avid sneakerhead, is using his passion for footwear to make a charitable impact. Back in 2015, he founded Sole Relief, a not-for-profit organization that collects shoes and sends them to underprivileged children across the world.
Cohen was routinely growing out of his sneakers – and he noticed the same thing happening to his friends – so he thought donating his old kicks might be worthwhile.