One Day Without Shoes {April 8 2010}

This Thursday, TOMS shoes is hosting one day without shoes. It's about promoting TOMS and helping ourselves and others be more aware of the people around the world who don't have shoes.

If your parents (or if you are a skeptical parent) won't let you go shoeless for a day without a good enough reason, tell them that we are raising awareness of Podoconiosis, a nasty disease that comes as a result of walking barefoot for extended periods of time on dirt mixed with volcanic ash. People around the world suffer this disease because they don't have shoes and don't wash their feet regularly (of the eighty-five million people in Africa, one million are afflicted by this debilitating disease). TOMS washes peoples feet and gives them shoes-one pair for every pair that is bought here in the States-to prevent this 100% preventable disease.

I'm not asking you to inflict pain on yourself because other people feel pain everyday. If you have a job at a construction site or Wal Mart, please don't go barefoot. And I don't want you to do this as a way to flaunt your "compassionate spirit". If you'll simply be doing normal things like going to school, working at an office or library, or just staying home, then I ask you to consider going shoeless for the day in order to support this charitable business and promote compassion in our blessed country.

Lydia