Written by Nicole Sullenger
If you were on Harding’s campus April 8, you may have noticed an odd number of students without shoes. This was a day inspired by the TOMS One Day Without Shoes Event, which translated to a Barefoot Festival on campus.
The event, which brought in 250-300 guests, was created by the Multicultural Student Action Committee, The Jesus Project, The Walking Society and a few other students from various majors.
Zachary Daggett, a sophomore accounting major, said he joined the planning committee once they had already started.
“The Jesus Project, MSAC and the Walking Society had started to team up already by the time the thought crossed my mind,” Daggett said. “When I mentioned the idea to someone else, they told me there were already people working on it so I teamed up with them and the Barefoot Festival was born as a result of everyone’s work.”
The Barefoot Festival, which took place on the front lawn, offered various activities including live music from Harding students April Souza, Christian Yoder, Amber Roe and Zach Daggett. Students could also participate in a barefoot walk sponsored by the Walking Society and place orders for their own pair of TOMS shoes.
TOMS shoes cost students $40 when bought through the festival and for each pair purchased, TOMS gives a pair of new shoes to a child in need.
According to the TOMS website, their business model is, “One for One. Using the purchasing power of individuals to benefit the greater good is what we’re all about. The TOMS One for One business model transforms our customers into benefactors, which allows us to grow a truly sustainable business rather than depending on fundraising for support.”
Through the festival, 84 pairs of TOMS were sold and more than $300 was raised to buy shoes for the kids of El Salvador the Jesus Project sponsors.
“We didn’t have a specific goal in mind (of how much money to raise),” Daggett said. “Our objective was to raise awareness about what it is like to go without shoes and to help provide shoes for those in need; we feel like we did both successfully.”
Two weeks later, on April 24, those who bought shoes gathered again for aStyle Your Soleparty in the art building. Approximately 20 students brought markers, paint, drawing paper and other art supplies to customize their pair of TOMS. If you would like to learn more about TOMS shoes, visithttp://www.toms.com/.
