Pine Bluff High School and Arkansas Razorbacks Unite for Community Service with Samaritan’s Feet

Recently, Pine Bluff High School athletes and coaches, in collaboration with Samaritan’s Feet and the Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball team, came together to serve their community in a remarkable way. Led by Coach John Calipari, the Razorbacks teamed up with Head Basketball Coach Dixon and his Pine Bluff players to distribute 500 pairs of new tennis shoes to elementary school students in Pine Bluff. The event, held at Thirty-Fourth Avenue Elementary School, saw a large turnout, with families lining up as early as 10:30 a.m. for the noon shoe distribution.

Reflecting on the experience, Coach Dixon shared, "As a High School Coach, my job is to create men with integrity and a heart to serve their community. I can teach them to play basketball, but teaching them to be good men and leaders is the most important job I have." This distribution not only gave students much-needed shoes but also provided Pine Bluff's young athletes an invaluable opportunity to mentor alongside the Razorbacks and engage with their community.

The impact of this event reaches beyond just the day’s service. Coach Dixon emphasized, "This was an amazing opportunity for our kids to serve our local community and learn from leaders like Coach Cal, who shares this same approach to mentoring through service." Over 75 volunteers made the day a success, showing how powerful community collaboration can be in uplifting and inspiring youth.