By: Matt Emma
Back-to-school season is typically a time for sharpened pencils, fresh notebooks, and kids brimming with excitement. However, for many Miami families, it also brings a sense of financial strain.
With the rising costs of school supplies, uniforms, and other essentials, budgets that are already stretched thin are pushed even further. This is why a group of local leaders and organizations came together this month to offer some support and foster a sense of community in families from Little Haiti.
At Little Haiti Soccer Park, the Stanley Gabart Foundation, in partnership with the Brown Law Group, Jarvis Brownlee Jr. of the Tennessee Titans, Yakol, The Urban, HTG, and the City of Miami, hosted their annual back-to-school distribution event. This effort, coordinated with Chairwoman and District 5 Commissioner Christine King, was not just about distributing backpacks. It was about easing some of the pressures that parents face.
This event marked the third year of the initiative, which has become an essential resource for families in need. Fifty families were pre-selected to receive gift cards, giving them the ability to purchase the specific supplies their children required. The organizers recognized that every student’s needs are different, and by providing families with this choice, they were also offering a sense of dignity.
“It is a blessing to have the third opportunity this year to help ease the financial burdens for families who need support with back-to-school supplies for their children,” said Commissioner King. “We are grateful for the continued collaboration of our sponsors.”
Her words reflected the spirit of the event. The mood at Little Haiti Soccer Park was optimistic. Kids ran across the grass, eager to receive their new supplies, while parents expressed gratitude for the support they were receiving. For many, the event provided a chance to start the school year with confidence, rather than already feeling behind.
“I wanted to reach out and genuinely help our community, especially as the new school year begins. Growing up in a single-parent home, I understand firsthand how challenging it can be when there are many children to support,” shared Stanley Gabart of The Stanley Gabart Foundation. “Distributing those gift cards gave me a deep sense of fulfillment, knowing I was making a positive impact. Reflecting on my own childhood, I can’t help but wish someone had been there for me in the same way. Now, I see this as an opportunity to offer that support, and there’s a healing power in that act of kindness.”
Back-to-school drives are not uncommon in Miami, but what distinguishes this effort is the collaborative power of meaningful partnerships. Stanley Gabart and his foundation have been bridging gaps between city leaders, athletes, businesses, and the community. When a local NFL player like Brownlee Jr. gets involved, it transforms the event from a charitable act into a story of role models coming together to make a difference.
According to the National Retail Federation, families in the U.S. are expected to spend an average of more than $890 this year on school-related expenses. For households already grappling with rising rents, gas prices, and food costs, this figure can feel overwhelming, particularly for single-parent families. While events like the one in Little Haiti cannot fully alleviate these struggles, they help reduce the inequities, even if only in small but meaningful ways.
This is the larger takeaway: Back-to-school season is not just about supplies—it’s about reminding children that they are seen, supported, and worth investing in. It’s about neighbors stepping up when larger systems may fall short. As students across Miami settle into their classrooms next month, the positive impact of one afternoon in Little Haiti will likely resonate far beyond the soccer park.
