Some students will be ditching their shoes and navigating campus in their bare feet today.
UF’s TOMS Campus Club is hosting One Day Without Shoes from noon to 2 p.m. on the Plaza of the Americas.
“One Day Without Shoes is a national event that was started by the TOMS shoes company, and it is meant to raise awareness about children’s health and education by going one day without our own shoes,” said UF TOMS President Emily Dhondt, a 20-year-old UF advertising junior.
Samantha Wright, the former club president, said it is a simple way to help spread the word about TOMS’ mission and introduce people to the hardships others face.
“Many of the individuals that TOMS donates to have never owned a pair of shoes, and every day, they are forced to walk great distances or step on sharp objects in their bare feet,” said the 21-year-old UF family, youth and community sciences senior.
The first 50 participants will receive coupons for $5 off a pair of TOMS at Gifthorse. There will also be a raffle for a $50 gift card to Gifthorse for anyone who comes out without their shoes.
Shannon Hill, a 19-year-old UF food and resource economics sophomore, said she plans to attend.
“It’s a very easy way to get involved in an incredibly important worldwide movement,” Hill said. “If you have the ability to make the world a better place, why wouldn’t you?”
