This is what Americans need to be busy doing

October 23rd, 2008 • chatter

Blake Mycoskie, one of the participants of The Amazing Race, started a little shoe company called TOMS Shoes two years ago and it’s been churning out quality shoes since then. But Blake’s not in it for the money, he’s got money. He’s doing this for the children. Yep, children. Recently, Blake just completed the first TOMS Shoes U.S. Shoe Drop to children still suffering from Hurricane Katrina.

What did he do? Well, he did what his company does: gives away great shoes for free. Once or twice a year, TOMS sets up a “shoe drop” where Blake and a handful of volunteers give away a pair of TOMS to children of a particular town/city/village. He does this all over the world and the free shoes are a part of the company’s business plan. See, when you buy a pair of TOMS, they save a pair to give out on a shoe drop. There’s no catch, you buy a pair, they give away a pair. I own a pair and plan on getting a second pair so I can help another child in need. The entire company is set up around this philanthropic idea and it’s probably the best one I’ve heard of in years. What’s even better is the shoes are made, ethically and fairly, in factories around the world where children need things like shoes. They’re not mass produced in some factory in China or Taiwan where someone’s making $0.05 per pair, they’re made right around the villages where people need this kind of help.

TOMS is a company more businesses should try and emulate. Blake didn’t start this company to get famous, he didn’t start it for money, he just wanted to help children at least have something new, something they can call their own. That’s what TOMS is all about.

I’m proud to have supported this latest shoe drop. I’m going to attempt to make the next planned U.S. drop if at all possible.

Tags: charity

Trackback URI.