TOMS shoes: shoes for tomorrow. If you buy 1 pair of TOMS shoes, you give a pair of shoes to a child in need. These shoes are sweeping the nation, especially for young adults. Why wouldn’t someone feel good buying/wearing these shoes knowing that they gave a pair of shoes to a child in need. According to the TOMS shoes website, “A leading cause of disease in developing countries is soil-transmitted diseases, which can penetrate the skin through bare feet. Wearing shoes can help prevent these diseases, and the long-term physical and cognitive harm they cause.Wearing shoes also prevents feet from getting cuts and sores. Not only are these injuries painful, they also are dangerous when wounds become infected.Many times children can’t attend school barefoot because shoes are a required part of their uniform. If they don’t have shoes, they don’t go to school. If they don’t receive an education, they don’t have the opportunity to realize their potential”. (http://www.toms.com/movement-one-for-one). Therefore: one for one, you get a pair and a child gets a pair. Talk about a sweet deal.
This new generation is becoming aware of their injustice others are experiencing and this fashion statement allows many people to make a difference. TOMS shoes started a solidarity movement in which people across the world are encouraged to go one day without shoes so as to become more aware of the effects of having no shoes. That day, this year, is today, April 8th. And I am participating.
So far my experience with One Day Without Shoes has been fun. I haven’t worn shoes all day, except I am forced to wear shoes in the dining halls and where they serve food as it is a health hazard not to. I was in line to go into the dining halls and I was told I could not enter without shoes. So I went back up to my room and grabbed a pair. I put them on right before I went in and took them off as soon as I came out. It’s kind of liberating not to wear shoes, but I don’t think it would be as safe if I wasn’t on a college campus. I have to pay attention to where I walk and have stepped on some uncomfortable things so far. My favorite moment thus far has been when someone asked me why I wasn’t wearing shoes. I was able to share my reasons and a bit of the TOMS shoes story and mission and I felt like I was able to make a difference.
It’s definitely a worthy cause!!
http://www.toms.com/
