Shoe-lanthrophy

See those gorgeous little puppies above? Those "practically perfect in every way", pair of wonderful shoes just made me a "shoe-lanthropist". How awe-inspiring is that? I don't think I have ever felt as good about spending some money. Because with every purchase of Toms shoes, the company will donate a new pair of shoes to a child in need with their groundbreaking One for One program. The company was founded on that basic principle.

So let me get this straight, because I bought a pair of fabulous shoes for myself, a child in another country will benefit by receiving a much needed pair of shoes? Because of me? Really?

It took me a moment to let this sink in. I needed to know more.
A quick trip to Toms.com gave me all the answers I needed.

From Toms.com:

"In 2006 an American traveler, Blake Mycoskie, befriended children in Argentina and found they had no shoes to protect their feet. Wanting to help, he created TOMS Shoes, a company that would match every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need. One for One. Blake returned to Argentina with a group of family, friends and staff
later that year with 10,000 pairs of shoes made possible by Toms caring customers".

Further reading reveals that because these children did not have shoes, the spread of disease which is transmitted through the soil, was rampant and that some of these children could not attend school because they did not have shoes.

"Since our beginning in May 2006, TOMS has given over *600,000 pairs of shoes to children in need through the purchases of caring customers.
*As of April 2010"

Wow, what a mission! Not only are the shoes adorable, chic, and comfortable, but they make you feel completely guilt-free for spending the money, and how can you beat that? I'm telling you, check out the shoes. Seriously, you will love them. And how could you not feel great about buying more than one style? My whole family has them,(except the guys, but Father's Day is right around the corner).

If Toms is making the world a better place, does that make me a better person for buying them?
Maybe yes, maybe no.

To get the definitive answer, you'd probably have to ask the child who was on the receiving end of my One for One swap.