Toms shoes can change the world March 30, 2011 — by Emily Williams For many people in the world having just one pair of shoes is a luxury that they often cannot afford. Yet in Saratoga shoes are a luxury that we take for granted. For many people in the world having just one pair of shoes is a luxury that they often cannot afford. Yet in Saratoga shoes are a luxury that we take for granted. We wear different pair to match our outfits, buy new ones because they are cute, not because we need them. Recently a new trend in shoes has left girls, and guys, with exciting new options. Toms shoes are flat, canvas, comfortable and pretty ordinary looking. Yet everyone is wearing them. What is the appeal of these average shoes? Toms was founded in 2006 when its founder, Blake Mycoskie, traveled to Argentina and befriended kids who had never owned a pair of shoes in their lives. When he returned to America, Mycoskie started Toms with the idea that they would donate one pair of shoes for every pair that they sold. As of 2010, Toms has donated over 1 million shoes to kids in Argentina, Ethiopia and other countries. In our world today there are so many problems that need to be solved and so many people that need to be helped. One million pairs of shoes will not solve all of the problems, but an idea can really make a difference. I wear Toms shoes because they are comfortable and cute—but mostly because I want to support the idea that they are spreading. Toms is redefining corporations and nonprofit organizations. The company is proving that corporate America can use their success to benefit the world. They are spreading awareness, making it easy to care about the world. Rich kids in Saratoga can wear the same shoes that kids who live in poverty in Ethiopia wear. By itself Toms will not change the world, but when their “one for one” philosophy spreads to other companies around the world, people will stop ignoring the problems and that is the biggest step that the world can take. On April 5, I will be joining Toms “One Day Without Shoes” campaign to help spread this idea of a compassionate world that notices and care about the people who are in need. You don’t have to ditch you shoes on April 5, buy Toms or even like the shoes. All I ask is that you open your heart, weather to the kids who don’t have the luxury of shoes, to the homeless person who sleeps under the freeway, or the person who sits next to you in math. Give some compassion and you will make the world a better place. For more information, visit http://www.toms.com/our-movement/ or http://www.onedaywithoutshoes.com/. 1 view this week