One Day Without Shoes

I know its last minute (i should have posted about this sooner!) but please consider joining me, and a ¼ million other people today as we go barefoot. (I’ll have socks on, I AM at work you know, but once i get home, its barefoot again). We’re doing this to spread awareness about the impact a simple pair of shoes can have on a child’s life.

TOM’s is asking for people to go the DAY, part of the day, a couple HOURS, or even just a few MINUTES, to go BAREFOOT, to experience life without shoes first-hand, and inspire others to do the same.

It’s one thing to look at pictures of kids and adults in third-world countries and see them barefoot, but let’s experience what its actually like. Granted, it won’t be near the same, but it’s a start!!

Another way you can look at this, make it personal. Think of our future child(ren) (you know, your grandchild(ren), nephew/niece, cousin, friend's child(ren)) for all we know, our little man (and whoever may come after him) could be without shoes this very moment. Sad.

Here’s some info from their website:

It’s Hard Without Shoes

Through everyday encounters with domestic poverty, we are reminded to appreciate having food and shelter, but most of us all but forget about our feet. Food, shelter, AND shoes facilitate life’s fundamentals. Imagine a life without shoes; constantly aware of the ground in front of you, suffering regular cuts and scrapes, tending to infection after each walk, and enduring not only terrain, but heat and cold.

The problem is large, but the solution is simple. Wearing shoes and practicing basic hygiene can prevent both infection and disease due to unsafe roads and contaminated soil. By imagining a life barefoot, we can all contribute to the awareness of these conditions. On April 8th, communities, campuses, organizations, and individuals are banding together to walk barefoot for One Day Without Shoes.

Take a walk with us on April 8th, 2010

• In some developing nations, children must walk for miles to school, clean water and to seek medical help.

• Cuts and sores on feet can lead to serious infection.

• Often, children cannot attend school barefoot.

• In Ethiopia, approximately one million people are suffering from Podoconiosis, a debilitating and disfiguring disease caused by walking barefoot in volcanic soil.

• Podoconiosis is 100% preventable with basic foot hygiene and wearing shoes.

Can’t go barefoot? Go virtually. http://www.onedaywithoutshoes.com/shoesok.php

I hope you're taking off your shoes. :-)