Compassionate Kids Participate in 'A Day Without Shoes'

On April 16, children from the New Britain-Berlin YMCA's Marjorie Moore Childcare Facility in Berlin participated in TOMS “One Day Without Shoes”  campaign to show support for children around the world who can't afford shoes. 

Mark Guerin, a YMCA super-caring staff member,  brought the concept to the children.  He found the activity day through TOMS, a shoe company that promotes giving through its “One for One” policy to give one pair of shoes to a needy child every time one pair of shoes is purchased.

Twelve children were introduced to the idea that not every child is fortunate enough to have shoes.  Going shoeless opened conversations about why shoes are important for health and wellness. 

Guerin and Danielle Waida took part as staff to talk with the children about these issues.  The YMCA children didn't stay barefoot all day; only for the group activity of discussing why shoes are important and how some kids in the world don't have shoes. 

The responses from the kids were, “That's sad that not all kids have shoes,” and, “Why don't they have shoes?”  Guerin told a story how a buddy of his was fortunate enough to wash the feet of children in Guatemala and put a pair of TOMS on their feet.  “I love that they (TOMS) are all about improving children's lives all around the world,” said Guerin.