TOMS One Day Without Shoes

Sometimes nothing feels better than going barefoot. My preference is usually to do it in the comfort of my own home. I don't particularly like to walk barefoot in grass, especially someone else's grass, nor do I like to walk on hard surfaces, such as sidewalks. I do, though, love to walk barefoot on a nice, clean, beautiful, sandy beach. That is such a great feeling between your toes. But I will always look down, worried that I will step on a piece of glass, a rusty bottle cap, or a razor clam. I don't even know what part of the world you would find a razor clam, but as a child, I remember hearing, "watch out for razor clams." One day a year, though, I willingly, and excitingly, go barefoot for the day, walking on clean sidewalks, dirty sidewalks, streets, grass, whatever surface greets the day. And on this day, I look for broken glass, gum and spit.

Imagine if you had to go barefoot every single minute of every single day because you didn't own a pair of shoes. Even today, that is the very situation that millions of people around the world find themselves in.

TOMS to the rescue. If you are unfamiliar with TOMS shoes, it is time to familiarize yourself ASAP. I am a huge TOMS fan. According to the TOMS website,TOMS was founded in 2006 by Blake Mycoskie, inspired by a trip to Argentina where he saw extreme poverty and health conditions, as well as children walking without shoes. The original TOMS shoe design  was a flat, simple, canvas, slip-on that came in a few fun colors. New styles have come out, new colors, new prints, but I still prefer the original. Here is the kicker:  For every pair of TOMS shoes sold, TOMS gives a pair to a child in need. In September 2010, TOMS gave the One Millionth pair of shoes to someone that would otherwise be without. How cool is that?  TOMS has partnered with charitable organizations around the world to incorporate shoes into health, education, hygiene and community development programs.

That brings me to the "fun" of One Day Without Shoes. One Day Without Shoes is a dedicated day to raise awareness of the impact a pair of shoes can have on a child's life by going without shoes. Millions of children live without shoes. Many are exposed to injury and disease each day, and are not allowed to go to school without shoes. The reason that we can all have "fun" going barefoot for one day is because we are fortunate in our country, and in our lives, to have shoes and to have a choice. We are also very fortunate to have a fabulous little shoe store that sells TOMS, run by a couple of fabulous sisters, that took up the cause last year. Through posters, fliers and letters again this year, the community was made aware of the campaign and events going on for the day. It is not a fundraising campaign, it is an awareness campaign, which means:  No money; just go barefoot for the day. People on the street stop and  ask, "Why aren't you wearing shoes?"  Green light:  Launch into your pre-rehearsed speech, spewing fun facts and telling people all about the diseases and problems associated with not wearing shoes. And don't forget, you should also suggest they run down and buy a pair of TOMS for themselves, which, in turn, is a donation, of sorts, of a pair of shoes to someone that needs them. As I like to say, a win/win for everyone.   

My friend and I took the afternoon off. We grabbed some lunch, helped the store get ready for the event, greeted people on the street, and then joined in the barefoot walk from Carroll College down to Sole Sisters. What a great day for a great cause. Mark it on your calendar for next year, somewhere around the first part of April.

TOMS and One Day Without Shoes is very near and dear to my heart. I saw many children in Tanzania without shoes. It is both eyeopening and heartbreaking. Something so simple can change the lives of so many people.

For more information, go to www.onedaywithoutshoes.com, and then go buy some TOMS.