Yesterday was my second time participating in TOMS One Day Without Shoes event (http://www.onedaywithoutshoes.com) (check out photos here) and it was definitely an experience! We didn’t get quite the numbers we were looking for but we definitely raised awareness and got people talking. Chiptole was even generous enough to DONATE 100 burritos to us!! This was a great gesture because without shoes we are not able to eat at our dining services.
** If I had a dollar for every side eye and “omg, why doesn’t she have shoes on” comment I would drop out of school!
I thought about Detroit today (yes, I will reference Detroit for the rest of my life) and how many people there didn’t have nearly as many options as I do. And even people around me at times don’t have as many options as me and sometimes they have more.
However, ruining the softness of my feet and walking on concrete made me appreciate all of my options. Even if it may not be exactly what I want, it’s better than nothing!
The TOMS movement is very inspiring. Organizations like TOMS keep me motivated and driven to live my life the way I do and pursue my dreams. Seeing the hundreds of people tweeting and my peers walking around campus without shoes today shows how one small gesture can make a huge impact.