“One for one” is how TOMS Shoes works. For every par of TOMS bought, one pair will be given to a child in need.
The message of this cause has been growing among Ouachita students for some time now, and it is about to be taken even further than purchasing a pair.
“Take the Walk” is a program started to fight poverty and AIDS in Africa. The idea is to come together raising awareness about this issue by walking a mile barefoot for one of five specific causes, one of which is TOMS Shoes.
The band Hanson started the “Take the Walk” campaign in the U.S. and Canada with a tour called “Walk Around the World.”
At each venue, along with their concert, the brothers host a mile long barefoot walk, like the one here at Ouachita.
For each person walking in an individually hosted “Walk event” the sponsor (Hanson) will donate one dollar to the chosen cause.
Freshman Amanda Seeley has organized a “Walk” for Ouachita students to get involved in this cause.
“I became interested in ‘Take the Walk’ about a year a go,” Seeley said. “I heard about a partnership that TOMS Shoes and the band Hanson had started in order to get our generation more aware and involved in providing shoes for the shoeless.”
Ouachita’s own “Take the Walk” will be held Saturday, Nov. 1 at 10:30 a.m. The group will meet in the ampitheater that morning and walk a mile shoeless. T-shirts will be available at the “Walk” for $10 each.
“We take so many things for granted, shoes being one of them,” Seeley said. “TOMS Shoes seemed like the best cause for our campus because of the obvious involvement already.”
“Something as simple as a pair of shoes can be misconstrued as minor. However, you would be surprised to find just how far having a pair of shoes could go. For example, shoes are part of the required uniform for most grade school kids. Therefore, no shoes, means no school.”
Freshman Nate Wade will take the walk and sees the potential in the event for its cause. “This event will raise money, but more importantly, it will raise awareness about what’s going on in Africa,”
The more people walking, the more donated to the cause of TOMS Shoes. More information can be found at www.tomsshoes.com and www.takethewalk.net.
