A Day Without Shoes

My dad is a diabetic, so from him I've learned the importance of foot care. A local shoe company is sponsoring a day to shed light on a simple way to help others. A Day Without Shoes is April 8th, 2010.

From their website:

One Day Without Shoes is the day to spread awareness about the impact a simple pair of shoes can have on a child’s life. On April 8th, we ask people to go the day, part of the day or even just a few minutes, barefoot, to experience a life without shoes first-hand, and inspire others at the same time.

Through everyday encounters with domestic poverty, we are reminded to appreciate having food and shelter, but most of us all but forget about our feet. Food, shelter, and shoes facilitate life's fundamentals. Imagine a life without shoes; constantly aware of the ground in front of you, suffering regular cuts and scrapes, tending to infection after each walk, and enduring not only terrain, but heat and cold.

The problem is large, but the solution is simple. Wearing shoes and practicing basic hygiene can prevent both infection and disease due to unsafe roads and contaminated soil. By imagining a life barefoot, we can all contribute to the awareness of these conditions. On April 8th, communities, campuses, organizations, and individuals are banding together to walk barefoot for One Day Without Shoes.

I personally am challenging you to clean out your closet on this day, and donate all your unneeded shoes to a charity in your area. And I challenge you to make this a family activity as well.