On Tuesday, April 5, 2011, a few Plymouth State University students took part in TOMS “One Day Without Shoes” to raise awareness and action, for third world countries in which children travel miles everyday without shoes, through curiosity.
TOMS shoes began in 2006, when founder Blake Mycoskie visited Argentina and found many of the children had no shoes on their feet. He began TOMS shoes, a company that since then has made its One for One campaign famous, which matches every pair of shoes purchased by giving a pair to a child who does not have any shoes.
While most of the participants featured in TOMS youtube video about the event features celebrities and students in much warmer climates partaking in this day of awareness, the 40 degree weather and slush did not stop PSU students Morgan Riley and Jay Hunter from going shoeless.
“I found out about toms through youtube videos last year. I think its a great cause and I really wanted to do my little part.
The hardest part was walking outside in the cold. Last year when I did it, it was nice and warm out but this year the puddles were a bit cold,” said Riley.
Hunter also found a few obstacles on campus, as he said, “Paying attention to where I was going at all times, seeing how it is a college campus and there are a lot of broken shards of glass scattered about campus.”
The crazy weather conditions seemed to only help the cause further as it brought students attention to Hunter and Riley’s feet even more. Both students said that they got really positive feedback from their peers about what they were doing.
Both students said they will definitely participate next year but that they hope for warmer weather. To find out more about TOMS shoes and their cause visit www.toms.com.