TOMS Shoes

Ever since I developed arthritis in my left hip my feet have been fairly boring. Not that I was a four-inch heel kind of gal (remember? Klutz, Party of 1), but I used to wear little, cute, kind of useless shoes. I had a gazillion pairs of shoes in my closet. Now I require support and comfort. Boring.

So when a friend posted on Facebook that there was this company that gave a pair of shoes to a child in need with every purchase of their shoes, I perked up a little, but not a lot. I needed to check out the shoes first to see if they would meet my comfort needs. When I went to the website I saw that most of the shoes were flats, and looked a lot like espadrilles. I decided that even if I couldn't wear them all day, they were cute enough to order a pair.

They came yesterday and I wore them all day today. I. love. them! They're cute & comfortable, and I get a warm & fuzzy feeling knowing that I helped a child with my purchase. So, this is my little advertisement for them. No, I'm not getting paid (although if someone wants to send me a free pair of shoes, I wear U.S. women's size 6.5). Here's a blurb from their website:

TOMS Shoes was founded on a simple premise: With every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. 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.

Why shoes?

Many children in developing countries grow up barefoot. Whether at play, doing chores or going to school, these children are at risk:

•A leading cause of disease in developing countries is soil-transmitted diseases, which can penetrate the skin through bare feet. Wearing shoes can help prevent these diseases, and the long-term physical and cognitive harm they cause.

•Wearing shoes also prevents feet from getting cuts and sores. Not only are these injuries painful, they also are dangerous when wounds become infected.

•Many times children can't attend school barefoot because shoes are a required part of their uniform. If they don't have shoes, they don't go to school. If they don't receive an education, they don't have the opportunity to realize their potential.