Try to imagine never having shoes to wear, nothing to ever protect your feet. While many of us enjoy walking around barefoot from time to time we usually stick to safer areas such as the beach or our yard. Millions of people throughout the world aren’t so lucky. They have no shoes to protect them from walking through even the most disgusting areas. This is where TOMS Shoes steps in. For every pair of TOMS Shoes you purchase they give a pair of new shoes to a child in need.
Thousands of people around the world will be going shoeless to show their support during TOMS One Day Without Shoes, and to drive awareness to children’s health and education. Wearing shoes helps to prevent cuts, infections, and the soil-transmitted parasite, Hookworm. It is thought that Hookworm affects 740 million people worldwide, and that children affected by it are 20% less likely to go to school. Along with the shoes, Giving Partners give de-worming medication to help treat the parasite.
Another big part of providing children with shoes is that it allows them to go to school. School uniforms, including shoes, are mandatory in many developing countries. If families cannot afford these then the children cannot go to school. For many children having a pair of shoes allows them to have a brighter future. Without the shoes they would not be able to get an education.
TOMS currently gives shoes to children in more than 50 countries, including the United States. They work with 75 Shoe Giving Partners who do other work such as health checkups, distribution of medicine, and youth leadership programs. The children get new shoes that are made specifically for children for school and play. They also provide winter boots for those living in cold climates.
Come on down to one of our stores and check out TOMS Shoes for yourself. Should you decide to buy a pair remember that your purchase will also provide a pair to a child in need.
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