If you’ve been doing any spring cleaning and wardrobe organizing with warmer weather just around the corner, you’ve probably been looking at your tired old canvas sneaks and loafers and thinking it just may be time to replace them–so please, do yourself (and the world) a favor, and go here.
If you’re unfamiliar with Tom’s Shoes, here’s the background (reprinted from their website):
Our Story
In 2006 an American traveler, Blake Mycoskie, befriended children in Argentina and found they had no shoes to protect their feet. Wanting to help, he created TOMS Shoes, a company that would match every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need. One for One. Blake returned to Argentina with a group of family, friends and staff later that year with 10,000 pairs of shoes made possible by caring TOMS customers.
Since our beginning, TOMS has given over 400,000 pairs of shoes to children in need through the One for One model.
Our ongoing community events and Shoe Drop Tours allow TOMS supporters and enthusiasts to be part of our One for One movement. Join us.
Why shoes?
Most children in developing countries grow up barefoot. Whether at play, doing chores or just getting around, these children are at risk.
Walking is often the primary mode of transportation in developing countries. Children can walk for miles to get food, water, shelter and medical help. Wearing shoes literally enables them to walk distances that aren’t possible barefoot.
Wearing shoes prevents feet from getting cuts and sores on unsafe roads and from contaminated soil. Not only are these injuries painful, they also are dangerous when wounds become infected. The leading cause of disease in developing countries is soil-transmitted parasites which penetrate the skin through open sores. Wearing shoes can prevent this and the risk of amputation.
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.
There is one simple solution…SHOES.
While some of us who really love shoes like to think they’re revelatory and occasionally the answer to a prayer, in this case, they really are. I’m not sure there’s any greater good than helping a child in need, and with Tom’s Shoes, it’s so easy to help. Their prices are reasonable, the designs are nifty, and you can do a truly good deed with such little effort.
Who ever thought shoe shopping could save the world?
