Recent TOMS at UGA Events

Style Your Sole!

Day Without Shoes

-One For One-

The hosts of UGA's successful Style Your Sole!

New Year, Same Goal, Different Direction

The 5k in December was a huge hit! The t-shirts turned out great thanks to the amazing ladies at ShirtWorks and all of the wonderful volunteers from TOMS at UGA and the UGAPD pulled the event off without a hitch!

This spring, we have been invited to take part in World Water Day with Global Fast on March 22nd. The premise is to "fast" for a meal to bring awareness to what others live without. We are in the process of planning all kinds of cool events and information tables to go along with our "fast." TOMS works with Charity: Water which is a very similar organization.

We will also be participating in the Athens Human Rights Festival this Spring, so come by and check it out!

We are also planning a Style your Sole event for UGA students in greek organizations in preparation of One Day without Shoes on April 5th. And then of course there are all of the ODWS events to be planned! Needless to say, we will be super busy!

Meeting dates are tbd.

"Barefoot" 5k!!!

Our "Barefoot" 5k is officially planned and we are so excited! It will be on December 4th from 9am-10:30am. Registration will be from 8:15-8:45 the morning of the race. There will also be several registration booths at Tate Plaza and the Ramsey Center leading up to the race. Pre-registration will cost $15 and registration at the race will cost $20. The cost includes a t-shirt, though sizes will be limited at the race. RSVP and find race details on our Facebook event page by searching TOMS at UGA Barefoot 5k!!!

A step towards a better tomorrow....

Another year has begun and TOMS at UGA is working with ever more vigor to promote the One for One movement. The club is currently coordinating a barefoot 5k to raise awareness about TOMS and what they do. We are also working on a song about TOMS with The Classic City Songwriting Circle to further promote and spread word about the movement. Join us in the fight for shoes!!! Please email tomsatuga@gmail.com if you have any questions.

One Week Without Shoes: Day 3

Ok,  so I'm tonight writing this column from my own comfortable bed at my house.  Although I still stick with my original stance that I would sleep in Tate once a week if we had the opportunity.  Anyways, Day 3 of me going barefoot and I'm actually starting to show some cuts. I had to get a full body shot b/c I wanted everyone to see my incredible business casual look today of shirt, tie, and no shoes.  The people I presented to in my International class all got a kick out of my hobbit's feet (and it's ok, I've embraced the fact that my feet are hobbit's feet, I mean honestly, I make Frodo Baggins look like a shoe model).  Anyways, in between my little two and my 4th one on my right foot there are several cuts from I guess stepping on sharp objects barefoot.  They hurt a little bit, but nothing that can't be fixed.  I'm surprised that my feet became lacerated so quickly (only 3 days!).  I mean, I'm 22 yrs. old, and I've been barefoot lots before.  My feet have a built up tolerance somewhat and yet they still got cut in only 3 days.  I can only imagine what happens to a 3 yr. old's feet walking around on the jagged terrains of South America and Africa.  The good news is that we can stop that!  I was very excited today to talk to my friend Aaron who informed me that he bought 2 pairs of TOMS shoes.  Chalk up 2 more free pairs being given away!!!  I know sometimes it's hard to see the big picture when you just buy one pair of shoes, but just think about all the people in America and that there are lots of others like you buying one pair of shoes, and that all those one pairs of shoes add up into about 400,000 pairs of shoes, which is something huge.  I'll be honest, I really wasn't expecting this to be hard at all, I thought it would just be fun, but I truly am struggling now. I've soaked my feet for awhile and they still hurt when any pressure is applied.  it's definitely given me new perspective, and I hope that it will encourage you to come out with us next week on April 8th and go barefoot.  Also, if you are interested, Kinnucan's in Athens sells TOMS shoes, or you can hit up the website TOMS.com.  Final thought for the day.  You are only one person by yourself, but with others you are more than just one, and you can accomplish great and wonderful things that can change the world.  There are over 40,000 people already signed up for One Day Without Shoes.  Together we can change the world. One Step at a time.  Go sign up today and I'll talk to you tomorrow!  Catch ya on the flip side

Kyler

One Week Without Shoes: Day 2

Ok, so I'm writing this blog from the inside of my cardboard "habishack" at about 2am in the middle of Tate Plaza and the only light I have is my laptop screen's white glow.  If you wondering why, it's b/c I'm supporting Habitat for humanity's effort to make more people aware of the fact that many people in Athens are homeless.  We all built houses of cardboard and are spending the night in Tate Plaza- should be an interesting night.  Mine is actually quite comfortable too.  It's a spacious 2 bedroom with an office and a kitchen.  Also, voted best carpet of all the houses, but this is neither here nor there.

Anyways, onto the more important issues.  My name is Kyler Dennis and I'm a campus rep at UGA for TOMS Shoes.  Coming up on April 8th is our 'Day Without Shoes' where we encourage everyone to go the entire day barefoot to be reminded that there are people all over the world who have no shoes.  Since I want as many people as possible to participate on the 8th, I decided to go barefoot for the entire week leading up to April 8th, and to blog about it. I've also decided to call it "One Week Without Shoes" (seems appropriate yeah?)  So here are my brief thoughts, may they inspire you, humor you, and motivate you to walk with us on April 8th (I know I'm starting on Day 2, but that's b/c this idea didn't hit me until about 4 hrs ago).

So it's the end of the second day barefoot and I've only got one really big thought in my mind-my feet are burning.  Not b/c of the hot pavement, but b/c of the incredibly rocky concrete that covers the entire Tate Plaza (my home for the night).  It literally is like walking on gravel with nails and fire.  Now I realize I'm being a huge baby, but it's my blog so I can complain if I want, ha.  That being said, it's only making me think more about the fact that I'm complaining after 48 hrs barefoot.  There are people who do this all their life, and they do it on way worse terrain than Tate Plaza concrete.  Now this is the part I guess where I am supposed to inspire you with words to buy some TOMS/walk barefoot with us, but seriously, just stop and think about it for a second.  I mean, how many pairs of shoes do most of us have? 5? 10? 20? pairs (that last one is for girls).   These people in other countries have none. NONE.   TOMS is doing a big part to stop that.  If you don't know what TOMS does it's simple.  For every pair of TOMS you buy, they give a brand new pair to someone who doesn't have any. One for one.  How awesome is that? I mean, I buy a pair of shoes, brand new, so freaking comfortable, and they are mine, but someone else gets the exact same thing.  And that person will probably appreciate it way more than me.  That's freaking great!! (a win-win if you will).

Anyways, now that you know what TOMS does, maybe you wanna help more.  You're asking, "What do I do?"  The answer is simple- go buy some TOMS.  Ok, maybe you don't have money.  Well, then come walk barefoot with us on April 8th.  People will ask why, then you tell them about TOMS, then they tell friends-knowledge spreads. People get helped. Everyone wins.  "But I don't wanna go barefoot, it hurts!!" you might be thinking this.  Well I'm here to tell you this, it does hurt some, but it hurts way more for those people who don't get a choice for shoes or not, so can't we suck it up one day for them?  Also, the UGA campus is not that bad, I mean, part of my job in going one week barefoot is to recon the bad spots and tell you so it's safe!!  (don't you love me even more now??)

So, to end this day's post, here are my thoughts:  For all you barefoot friends, stay away from the parking lots behind Sig Chi, walk on the grass (it feel phenomenal and makes you young again), wash  your feet in Herty Fountain (again, it makes you feel like your 8 all over), stay away from Tate Plaza (for reasons aforementioned), the SLC feels good too, and don't walk on roads if you can (they are hot as hell!!).  Lastly, don't forget, April 8th, day without shoes!!  And if you can't go barefoot all day, meet us out in front of Tate 2 at 3pm for our 1 mile barefoot walk.  For everyone who signs up they donate a dollar to TOMS charity!! Tomorrow I'll be back with more barefoot news.  See ya on the flip side!

Kyler