"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

One Day at UGA Video

All of us in the TOMS at UGA club would really like to thank everyone who participated in the making of this video. We couldn't have done it without the help of our fabulous extras that we pulled off the street and away from their studies to join us in support of One Day Without Shoes. We would also like to thank you, for taking a few minutes to watch our video and share the barefoot experience.

Please join us in our efforts to cover the UGA campus with bare feet on April 8, 2010 and walk with us at 3 p.m. from the Tate West Lawn to raise awareness of the impact a simple pair of shoes can have on a child's life.

For every person that walks, $1 will be donated to provide shoes to children in need.

Also, please register for our event at OneDayWithoutShoes.com to help us remain in the top six events. You can also join us in our movement on Facebook and Twitter.

One Day News Source Video

I just found this News Source 15 video featuring Stuart Darsey, from One Day last year, floating around the Internet. Check it out.




I hope this inspires you to take off your shoes on April 8!

One Day Without Shoes Video Shoot

Today we started filming of our One Day Without Shoes video, and had a lot of fun in the process. Here are some photos from the shoot.

We can't wait for ODWS.

Send in your photos to have them added to the blog!

One Day Without Shoes design contest

TOMS is so excited about One Day Without Shoes, April 8, 2010, that they are going crazy with generosity (like they aren't generous enough?)!

TOMS has teamed up with Threadless.com to create an awesome T-shirt design contest. Participants are asked to design a tee based on the theme: It's hard without shoes. This theme leaves a lot of room for creativity in design. (The ideas are swirling around in my head as we speak.)

The contest runs from Feb. 2 - Feb. 21, 2010, and the winning design will be promoted along with ODWS. In addition, the winning designer will receive a year of free TOMS (12 pairs), the opportunity to design a t-shirt for the TOMS Shoes online store, a $500 Threadless.com gift card and $2000 dollars cash!

The submission deadline will be here before you know it, so get those brains a-stormin' and enter to win this great contest.

For more details on the contest check out TOMS Shoes & Threadless.com. You can also view the contest submissions.

It's that time of year again...

One Day without Shoes is fast approaching! Mark it on your calendars! April 8, 2010 is the second annual ODWS.


TOMS is asking everyone to go barefoot for one day, one hour, one minute on this day to raise awareness of the large group of people on this planet (40% of the population) that go barefoot every day.

Be sure to check TOMS' ODWS website and on the TOMS at UGA blog for updates on the event.

I leave you with this: The facts.

Fact #1:

In some developing nations, children must walk for miles to food, clean water and to seek medical help.

Fact #2:

Cuts and sores on feet can lead to serious infection.

Fact #3:

Often, children cannot attend school barefoot.

Fact #4:

In Ethiopia, approximately one million people are suffering from Podoconiosis, a debilitating and disfiguring disease caused by walking barefoot in volcanic soil.

Fact #5:

Podoconiosis is 100% preventable by wearing shoes.

Dawgs for Haiti

On January 12, 2010, the worst natural disaster to affect the western hemisphere in decades struck some of our poorest and most vulnerable neighbors. A 7.0 magnitude earthquake rattled the small Caribbean nation of Haiti, just ten miles outside of the densely populated city of Port-au-Prince. More than 50,000 people may be dead and buried among the rubble.

Volunteer UGA and the University of Georgia are answering the call to action. Dawgs for Haiti is a bulldog nation-wide effort organizing to raise money to support the victims of this devastating earthquake.

$50,000 for 50,000. That is our pledge, and our proceeds will be devided evenly between the relief efforts of the Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders. The bulldog nation has 34,000 students, 250,000 alumni, and countless more members around the world. Now is the time for us to come together in the spirit of Southern hospitality and give our support to the victims of this terrible disaster.

Please donate generously.