MSUM's TOMS Day Without Shoes

April 18, 2012

Students from MSUM are ditching their shoes to raise awareness for children in need.
 
Several students went barefoot today as a part of the national campaign "Tom's Day Without Shoes."
 
 
Across cement... on the stage... and even through leaves.

These MSUM students have chosen to forgo footwear for the day.

 "They're a bit numb, which is actually a good thing, because I can’t feel all the rocks and stuff," said event organizer Katie Winter, referring to her bare feet.
 
But they haven't ditched their shoes in vain– they're trying to help children in need by taking a walk in their shoes, or rather in their lack of shoes.

Winter said, "People should feel what it is to go without shoes to kind of put it in their mind what people have to go through on a daily basis."
 
"The idea of walking around like this every day without shoes is really difficult because just one day without shoes is hard," said MSUM sophomore Erie Sara.
 
The event was started by the shoe company TOMS, which donates a pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair purchased to help keep kids feet safe.
 
 
This path demonstrates what some children have to walk through each day– leaves, twigs and even rocks, all without shoes.
 

"In third world countries, kids need shoes to go to school," said Winter. "It's required by the schools so it helps them get an education as well as it keeps their feet from getting cuts."
 
While these students may have only gone barefoot for the day, they hope their message will help put shoes on the feet of hundreds of children in need. Kim Kressin, Fox News.
 
You can purchase Toms shoes from TOMS.com