i heart faces Challenge - Barefoot Week

This is Angie and Amy's week off, so we get to focus on something OTHER than faces. And it just happens to be something I LOVE to photograph - bare feet! Well, I should clarify. I don't mind taking photos of my own feet. But I really can't stand other people's feet. Baby feet are fine, and I don't mind kid feet too much, but anyone older than, say, 4 - keep your toes away from me, please!


Angie and Amy chose to focus on bare feet this week because they are supporting a great cause, Soles 4 Souls.


This is a "Nashville-based charity that collects shoes from the warehouses of footwear companies and the closets of people like you. The charity distributes these shoes free of charge to people in need, regardless of race, religion, class, or any other criteria. Since 2005, Soles4Souls has given away over 7 million pairs of new and gently worn shoes (currently donating one pair every 9 seconds.) The shoes have been distributed to people in over 125 countries, including Kenya, Thailand, Nepal and the United States." (Source)

This charity reminds me of 2 things. One, TOMS shoes. This shoe company is AWESOME. For every single pair of shoes that they sell, they give a pair away to a child who has none. I think this is so incredibly generous of them. As soon as I get a job that pays a bit more than pennies, I am buying a pair.


Speaking of incredibly generous, the other thing I was reminded of is actually a group of people. A band. Hanson. Yes, the MMMBop kids from 10 years ago. They are all grown up, and now they spend a great deal of time helping others. They have started their own organization called Take The Walk. People all over the country (and all over the world) are organizing group walks. For each person that walks one mile at these events, Hanson then donates one dollar for various causes, whether it is drilling water wells, building schools, or providing access to medical help. They have even teamed up with TOMS to donate more shoes! One of my very best friends organized a walk at our college last year. We had over 150 people show up, and then the school donated an additional dollar for each walker. It was an amazing day.


Whether you are donating shoes or money, or just walking for a cause, go do something. Help someone who isn't family or friend. Do something for others that doesn't benefit you AT ALL. It'll leave you with this feeling that I can't even describe. Sometimes, I feel small; I am only one person. How can I possibly change someone's life for the better? To think that the mile I walked, helped to build a school for African children. One small donation, one short mile, one pair of shoes can go halfway around the world just to make one child happier. YOU can make a child happier, and give them a reason to hope.

Trust me, it's a great feeling.




I am linking up with Leigh vs. Laundry and her meme, The Happiness Project. What is making me wildly happy today? Helping others.

Also, beachy toes.


And sunny toes.