 "Photo: Rodrigo Huerta — THE BATTALION")
Hundreds of Aggies will walk into class barefoot April 17-18 to spread awareness and inspire action with the "Day of No Shoes."
This event is sponsored by Global Justice, an on-campus organization that concentrates its efforts on social issues throughout the world. One of its causes is finding a local solution to the 300 million children who go throughout their lives without shoes worldwide.
"We all know that there are many children who go shoeless every day, but I never would have thought that over 50 percent of the world's children will never be able to afford a pair of shoes," said junior business management major Kerri Hudak, who serves on the Global Justice "Day of No Shoes" Committee.
As part of its Human Rights week, which begins Monday, Global Justice will have a benefit concert on April 20 to raise money for TOMS Shoes. TOMS Shoes is an organization that donates one pair of shoes to a child in need for each pair sold. "Day of No Shoes" stemmed from the organization's desire to find a unique way to advertise the concert.
"If people see someone not wearing shoes, hopefully they'll stop and read the shirts or start asking questions," said senior accounting major John Lee, who is on the planning committee.
"Day of No Shoes" brings to light that not wearing shoes can impact the lives of the 300 million children who must deal with it daily. Without proper footwear, these children are susceptible to certain foot-borne diseases like ringworm and may be kept from school because of uniform issues.
"The purpose of 'Day of No Shoes' is to 'bare our soles for their souls,'" said sophomore general studies major Laura Berry, a committee member.
"Day of No Shoes" will be centered on the Texas A&M campus and participants include students and professors. The concert will be off-campus and include the support of Coffee Station, TOMS Shoes, Northgate Vintage, Twin City Missions and Samaritan's Feet. TOMS Shoes will sponsor a semi-annual national "Day of No Shoes" on April 17. Global Justice chose to participate in the event to bring the issue close to home for college students.
"The goals of the benefit concert are to educate the community about the effects of poverty - specifically the inability for many people all over the world to afford proper footwear - and to empower the community to think globally and act locally by supporting TOMS Shoes," said freshmen communication major Jessica Bradford, another committee member.
The benefit concert will have live music from Aggie performers and a guest speaker from TOMS Shoes. TOMS Shoes' merchandise will be available for purchase on site. The suggested admission price to the event is a pair of socks or shoes that will be donated to Twin City Missions.
Support for the event has been better than anticipated and committee members expect many more students to get involved. Through a Facebook group, students can learn more about its mission and purchase T-shirts. Although the committee originally estimated selling 30 shirts, purchases have already been made for close to 150.
"It only takes a small idea with a lot of passion to make something happen," Berry said. "The support we have seen so far has been incredible and more than I would have ever dreamed."
Students wishing to get involved can purchase T-shirts through Facebook, attend the benefit concert at 7 p.m. on April 20 and go shoeless April 17-18. Whether or not the students get involved in this event, Global Justice members said that students need to get involved in the world around them.
"I would love to see more students at Texas A&M University become socially conscious individuals who aren't just apathetic about world problems but who take action," Bradford said. "Together we can promote positive social change in our community and abroad."
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