Going Without Shoes!

Remember a while back I wrote about being a spoiled OC kid?

Well, this is kind of about the same thing.

How many of you have lots shoes in your closet? I have a grand total of twelve pairs of shoes (four of those are Toms). I recently read an article somewhere that said that children in Ethiopia dream to someday own their own pair of shoes. I, as a child, dreamed about owning a horse ranch (I still do, ya' know. It shouldn't be in the past tense...). I always have had shoes. TONS of them!! I never needed to worry about stepping on something sharp or poisonous because I had so many pairs of shoes to wear that protected my feet.

People in third-world countries (specifically Africa) are blessed to own one pair of shoes that may or may not fit. Foot disease is rampant. Common diseases people in Africa get such as podoconiosis (“mossy foot”), schistosomiasis, tungiasis, hookworm, and even diabetes can all be prevented by wearing shoes!

I am raising awareness by joining Tom's One Day Without Shoes. On April 5th (this coming Tuesday), I am (and is everyone else who supports this and is raising awareness) not wearing shoes for the entirety of the day. I'm going to school without shoes, going to work without shoes, and going to voice class without shoes. If anybody asks why I am barefoot, I'm going to tell them of these people and what Toms is doing to help.

So, my challenge for you and your family and friends is this: Who’s with me!? Will YOU go barefoot on April 5th? Will YOU raise awareness too?