Wear TOMS

The presents for the guys and gals of our wedding party arrived at the door yesterday! I am still so stinkin' excited that I just have to share. Screw surprises. 

That's right! TOMS shoes at a wedding. By this point, more people than not have heard of TOMS shoes. The ultra comfy, ultra cute, ultra versatile flats for men and women. They're also trendy and hip, and blah blah blah.

But there's a good reason for the trendiness and the hipness. The One for One Movement. TOMS Shoes was founded on a simple premise: With every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. One for One. It really is as simple as that.

Why shoes you might ask?

Many children in developing countries grow up barefoot. Whether at play, doing chores or going to school, these children are at risk. 

• A leading cause of disease in developing countries is soil-transmitted diseases, which can penetrate the skin through bare feet. Wearing shoes can help prevent these diseases, and the long-term physical and cognitive harm they cause.
• Wearing shoes also prevents feet from getting cuts and sores. Not only are these injuries painful, they also are dangerous when wounds become infected.
• Many times children can't attend school barefoot because shoes are a required part of their uniform. If they don't have shoes, they don't go to school. If they don't receive an education, they don't have the opportunity to realize their potential.

I racked my brain for a wedding party present that wasn't all cheesy or disposable, and I think I got this one right. Do good shoes to wear all day or when our tootsies get tired from all the dancing.

So just like that, 7 new pairs of shoes are going to children in need. If you're reading this, wedding party, thank you, for helping to make this happen.

Buy TOMS. Wear TOMS. Ask everyone you know to do it too. One for One.