A Day Without Shoes
University of Indianapolis students walked to classes barefoot and were not allowed to eat in the cafeteria on April 10, while they participated in the TOMS One Day Without Shoes.
Senior Arianne Villareal participates in the TOMS One Day Without Shoes event. TOMS has given one million pairs of shoes to children in need. Photo by Kelbi Ervin
TOMS is a company that embraces a “One for One” movement. The company sells shoes and eyewear. TOMS donates a pair of shoes to a child in a developing country for every pair of shoes purchased and helps give sight to a person in need with every eyewear item purchased. This philanthropic venture began in 2006.
One Day Without Shoes is an annual April event that began in 2008. According to the TOMS website, the event is “the day we raise awareness of the impact a pair of shoes can have on a child’s life by going without shoes.”
Senior psychology major Andrea Groves and sophomore exercise science major SarahAnne Pelkey joined the movement of over 3,000 One Day Without Shoes events taking place in more than 50 different countries. According to the TOMS website, over 7,000 people registered to participate in One Day Without Shoes.
This year was Groves’ third time participating in One Day Without Shoes.
“I think it’s important to get involved, because I think it’s important that we take [the] initiative and help change the world,” she said. “Me going barefoot for a day isn’t anything like a child going without shoes for a lifetime. But it causes people to ask questions and therefore it brings to the forefront issues that most people know exist, but don’t face every day.”
Groves also said that many conversations are started as part of the TOMS One Day Without Shoes event, which helps increase awareness of the organization and help children around the world.
According to the TOMS website, millions of children live without shoes, and are not allowed to attend school as a result of that.
Pelkey participated in One Day Without Shoes for the first time and said it was worth it, despite the cold.
“I think it is important for us [students] to participate in raising awareness about causes that we support,” Pelkey said. “Going a day without shoes is nothing compared to never having shoes. It made me aware of how kids without shoes really feel. You do get treated differently. You can’t go places you normally go, and you are constantly paying more attention to where you are walking.”
Pelkey said that she was not allowed to go into the cafeteria without her shoes, and Groves said that some of her friends were turned away from the cafeteria as well.
Groves and Pelkey both said that people looked at them funny as they walked around campus barefoot. Pelkey said people thought it was gross to go to the restroom without shoes; and Groves, a member of College Mentors for Kids, said that the elementary students in the program had many questions.
Warren and Cory Bretz Halls each held events on April 9 to raise awareness about One Day Without Shoes, make t-shirts and get ready for the event the following day.
According to the TOMS website, TOMS had given one million pairs of shoes to children in need around the world as of September 2010. The UIndy students who helped raise awareness of the TOMS organization are part of the movement.
