Students to support TOMS charity event

Tomorrow, a group of students might bare more skin than usual while on campus.

April 10 is “One Day Without Shoes,” an international event in which people around the world are encouraged to leave their shoes at home to bring awareness to children who go without them.

“You can see how much wear and tear their feet go through when you’re only doing this for a day, and this is their whole life,” said senior Hannah Wishart, vice president of the IU TOMS Shoes Club.

Fellow senior and club President Cassie Recker said children who do not own shoes can be injured or contract diseases.

“They’re things people normally overlook,” Recker said of shoes.

Junior and Co-Vice President Ashley Elliott said events occured in more than 25 countries last year. Elliot said she thinks seeing people barefoot will spark awareness and said some group members will be wearing T-shirts to support the cause.

“I hope to be able to walk to and from class,” Elliott said. “I’m a little bit nervous about rocks, but the pain shouldn’t be my biggest concern.”

Wishart said that when a customer purchases a pair of TOMS shoes, another pair is donated to a child in need. She said IU is one of many universities around the country that have a club affiliated with TOMS.

On Tuesday, the club will kick off its main event with a pre-party at 3 p.m. at Kilroy’s on Kirkwood . Local band the Main Squeeze will then perform for a free “barefoot” concert at 6 p.m. in Dunn Meadow.

“It’s a good way to see them if you’re not 21,” Elliott said of the Main Squeeze. “Everyone is more than welcome.”

Recker also said she is excited.

“What better thing than to dance barefoot to funk music?” Recker said.

A shoe drive will also take place. Th e organization has partnered with Tradehome Shoes , which will be able to repair shoes in poor condition. The shoes will be donated to the Community Kitchen of Monroe County.

“We wanted to do something we could get the whole campus involved in,” Wishart said. “We are just trying to raise awareness for TOMS, the ‘one for one movement’ and kids around the world who don’t have shoes.”

Wishart said the shoes are donated to kids in other countries and, more recently, those in the United States.

“It’s where need exists that they try to hit,” Wishart said.

The event in Dunn Meadow will also feature cornhole and Frisbee.

“I think the event needs to be framed as ‘Come chill and hang with us,’” Wishart said. “It’s a fun event. I just want to stress the laidback-ness of it. That’s the culture of TOMS.”

Recker was a big force in re-establishing the campus organization after graduating members left it largely inactive. It now has about 15 to 20 members.

“I had become interested in TOMS last summer,” Recker said. “I love the idea of social enterprises. I’m really proud of our group. We went from nothing to putting on this awesome event.”

For next year, club members said they have diff erent ideas and events planned. A TOMS documentary might be screened, or the group might have a “Style Your Sole” party in which artists paint white TOMS to people’s preferences.

“I’ve always had that drive to help others,” Recker said. “I’m really excited about what social enterprises can do for the world, and I think TOMS is a great company.”