Every year, nearly 10 million children under the age of five die from largely preventable causes, according to UNICEF. Sometimes something as simple as the lack of a pair of shoes can mean the difference between life and death.

TOMS started in 2006, when Blake Mycoskie traveled to Argentina and found that the children there had no shoes to protect their feet from all sorts of dangers. Wanting to help, he created TOMS, and it has been growing since.

In places like China, South Africa, Uganda, Argentina, Ethiopia, Haiti, Cambodia, and more, TOMS is stepping in to make a difference.

All kinds of infections can occur without covered feet, and when Mycoskie, 33, saw that many places around the world lacked this, he launched a movement that is now changing the lives of over a million kids world wide.

The movement’s slogan is “One for one.” Meaning that for every pair of TOMS shoes one buys online or in select stores, another pair goes to a child in need.

And though some may argue that shoes are unimportant in comparison to food or education, they are misinformed. In fact, large percentage of infectious diseases can be prevented by two things: toilets, and shoes.

Giving these children shoes helps them with their education as well because in some communities a requirement to attend school is to have shoes.

How they give is a simple step-process. First, they identify the communities that need shoes. Then, they provide shoes that fit each child perfectly, then continually provide the child with shoes as they grow.

Volunteers go into the communities and fit each child to their correct shoe size, interacting with the different cultures and experiencing hands-on the impact this movement is making.

Here in Milford, we see many of our own who have taken part in the movement.
A number of students wear these wrap-like shoes as well. Word of mouth has spread the popularity of these shoes, and without the idea behind them would probably not be quite as successful.

“It makes me feel like I’m part of something bigger,” state Junior Dana Morse. “Even though I’m just buying a pair of shoes.”

Dana first heard about the movement from a family member, and since has bought two pairs. Though it makes no difference to her who the parallel pair goes to, she feels like it’s a great cause to be a part of.