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Between classes tomorrow, stop by the Student Union Ballroom for some free food, live music and shoes. TOMS Shoes is hosting Shoenanigans between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. all in the name of charity.
TOMS is a shoe company that has unique business practices and a tight-knit relationship with its customers. Customers are guaranteed a simple promise when shopping with TOMS: for every pair of shoes purchased, TOMS charitably donates a pair to children throughout the world who walk shoeless everyday. This past November, the company took part in a shoe drop in Africa supplying 50,000 less fortunate children with new pairs of shoes, and the company is looking to bring their efforts to Argentina this May.
As for the actual shoe, TOMS are modeled after alpartagas, which are made by the natives of Argentina. The shoe is made with a light canvas and is offered in a wide variety of styles. TOMS will have a wide selection of shoes for students to try out at the event; and if a preferred style or size is missing, they will graciously provide students with a redemption code so that they can receive free shipping while shopping online.
While shoes are the main focus of tomorrow's festivities, they aren't all that TOMS is bringing to campus. A "Do Great Stuff" table will be set up so that students may do their shopping online at stores that give a portion of their proceeds to various charities across the world.
There will be a jewelry table with hand-made crafts from the Philippines. All proceeds from the day's sales will go to help fund buying school supplies for children in that country.
Keeping in step with the theme, there will also be a corporate social responsibility survey and raffle where students will be asked how much they really know about big business and companies like TOMS. The prize is a gift certificate to a local restaurant.
While walking around students will enjoy the musical abilities of local band Skullfunked, as well as Tim Schurrer and Friends, a Nashville singer-songwriter.
Earthfoods will be serving desserts such as ginger cookies and sour cream coffee cake all day.
If students enjoy the shoes or are moved by the cause, they can continue to get involved by signing up for the UMass Barefoot Fundraiser. The UMass Outing Club will be taking names and $5 from anyone who wants to participate in a short walk to promote the issue of poverty. The walk will take place April 16 in support of National Day Without Shoes.
Teresa Reilly can be reached at treilly@student.umass.edu.
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