TOMS Club holds barefoot walk, raises awareness

Participants in the third annual TOMS barefoot walk, was organized by UCA’s TOMS Campus Club, met during x-period April 10 at Hughes Hall and walked barefoot to the fountain and back.
The barefoot walk is held every year to provide students with the opportunity to actively display their support for the TOMS mission, which is providing shoes for children around the world who are in need.
“One Day Without Shoes” is a worldwide event sponsored by TOMS that encourages people who are fortunate enough to have shoes, to go barefoot for a day in order for them to better understand the hardships experienced by people who can’t afford shoes.
Participants were asked to remove their shoes before walking in the event, to truly appreciate the cause.
Prior to the walk, participants met in front of Hughes Hall to design custom T-shirts and TOMS shoes. People who attended also had the chance to paint the bottoms of their feet and place their footprints on a banner.
“It raises awareness of what kids are going through every day,” junior TOMS Club member Lorrie Fleming said. “It also raises the question of why you are going barefoot.”
Fleming volunteered for the event and said this is the last event by the TOMS Club scheduled for the spring term.
She said the “Style Your Sole” event would be returning in the fall for students interested in designing a custom pair of TOMS shoes.
Ashley Love, director of finance and patron services for public appearances, said students could still be involved even if they are not able to purchase a pair of TOMS.
“If you believe in the movement, you can still share that with others,” she said. “Even if you’re not a supporter of TOMS, you can still be a part of giving.”
Senior Ashley Westerman said this was her second year to be a part of the walk.
“It’s such an awesome organization,” she said.
Westerman said the event was created to educate participants about the reality of conditions for people who are not able to provide for themselves.
Junior Josh Whitehurst, TOMS Campus Club president, said the turnout at this year’s barefoot walk was less than it had been in years past, but that he still believed the event was “awesome.”
“It doesn’t have to be big to be successful,” he said.
Whitehurst said he owes much of the success of the event to other members of TOMS Campus Club.
Participants of the event invited people around campus to join the cause as they walked.
Ken Ashlin, TOMS Campus Club vice president, led the walk past the Student Center and took pictures of participants holding a TOMS banner in front of the Harding Centennial Plaza Fountain.
Blake Mycoskie founded TOMS in 2006. For every pair of TOMS purchased, the company donates a pair of shoes and sends them to people in need around the world.
The company has recently launched a similar format using sunglasses, to give eyesight to people unable to afford needed optical care, according to their website.
TOMS started a “Ticket to Give” program that gives supporters the chance to watch the giving process take place in other countries firsthand.
Pitza 42, a local restaurant in Conway, uses the “one for one” concept by donating meals. The restaurant donated gift cards as door prizes to students at the event.
T-shirts and books were also given out as prizes following the barefoot walk around campus.