Kids don’t need much to dream. But they do need a few basic, important things to succeed: education, food, exercise and clothing. So we’re happy to support a company that aims to give one million pairs of shoes to underprivileged children right here in the US by the end of 2014.
Confession: I heart Toms Shoes and their One for One program the way my daughter hearts princess-covered pop beads and rainbow sprinkles.
I’m a Classics girl, if my very broken in “Great Love” vegans and equally well-loved “Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project” canvases are any indicator. Buying Toms just makes me feel good. Mainly because when my kids or I get a pair, a child in need gets a brand new pair too.
In the past, Toms has focused on kids in other countries. Now Toms is also turning its attention to impoverished children here in the US. Pretty great.
The expanded giving program will serve kids in communities with schools that enroll a high percentage of children who qualify for the National School Lunch Program or McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act. Toms will be working in 35 states with help from organizations like Save the Children, Feed the Children and Helen Keller International.
Toms actually started giving shoes away in the US in 2008 on a small scale (who knew?) then launched a pilot program in 2011. In that time, they’ve been able to figure out how many sizes to send and what kind of styles to give–like athletic shoes for kids who really want to participate in sports but haven’t been able to because they’ve lacked supportive footwear.
The company’s prescription glasses, which launched with the same buy-one-give-one philosophy in 2011, will also be part of their US giving initiative. Yet another reason to support Toms. Way to go, guys. -Pilar
Watch a video about their US giving initiative on the Toms Shoes website, and purchase a pair of Toms shoes on toms.com. Or two. Or three. For every pair purchased, one pair will be donated to a child in need.
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