Going barefoot so they don’t have to
Some students opted to go barefoot Friday, getting a small taste of how people all over Africa live every day. The event, Barefoot Friday, part of Feet First, was sponsored by Aggies for Africa to raise awareness of shoeless people in Africa and to generate donations from students.
Coy Whittier, junior and president of Aggies for Africa, said he was “blown away” by student response.
Feet First, which continues through Friday, has already received nearly 500 pairs of shoes. Whittier said he suspects much more will be given throughout the week.
Boxes for donations are located in the Taggart Student Center, Old Main and the Merrill-Cazier Library.
Aggies for Africa has also had a table outside of the TSC.
During Barefoot Friday, Whittier said some students who saw the barefooted club members sitting at the table would ask what they were doing and, upon hearing the idea behind sacrificing shoes for a day, would take off their shoes without hesitation and add them to the collection.
“It was unbelievable. It was quite a feat. There was way more than expected. Some would take shoes right off of their feet and put them in the pile,” he said. “It was awesome.”
Whittier said a student who was wearing brand new Chacos willingly gave them up for the cause after talking to club members about their mission.
Coupling Barefoot Friday with the shoe drive was the idea of one group member as the club worked to come up with a way to attract a lot of attention. According to members of the club, it worked.
Allie Gardner, junior and member of Aggies for Africa, said her bare feet drew a lot of looks.
Having recently returned from working in Zambia, Gardner said she is used to having people stare at her because she is white. On Friday, however, Gardner was attracting attention for her bare feet. She said many people approached her, inquiring about her absence of shoes. Those conversations, Gardner said, were perhaps the greatest thing to come from Barefoot Friday, aside from the many donations.
Aggies for Africa is working with Mothers Without Borders to donate the shoes. Every year, Mothers Without Borders sends shipments of various supplies to Africa. Early next year, the shoes donated in the drive will be sent to Zambia. Until they are sent, Gardner said the shoes will be stored in a warehouse in Orem.
After walking barefoot Friday, Dan Allen, junior and member of Aggies for Africa, said he learned how lucky people in America are and just how many conveniences are readily available. Putting on his 50-cent flip-flops after walking around campus shoeless, Allen said he couldn’t believe the difference.
Allen said the drive is something in which students need to participate.
Whittier agreed and said he believes the drive can bring out the goodness and charity in people, something that today’s society is lacking.
“Some students would take their shoes off right there, and that is something we are seeing less and less of in our culture, doing something to make a difference. I think that is being lost. Anything you can do to bring it out, that desire, is a positive experience,” he said.
Allen said he expects Feet First to really raise awareness and that students will participate in the drive. This time of life, he said, presents the best opportunity students have to truly make a difference.
“It is a good thing, especially for college kids, to be involved. After we graduate, we get a job and get married and are enveloped in our own life. We are not really tied to anything now,” he said. “We are kind of free floating, and we can make a big difference in whatever we choose to do.”
Allen said he hopes the drive will be successful, not only in collecting shoes for the people of Zambia and raising awareness of problems facing all of Africa, but also by increasing aid to the struggling countries.
“All we can do is hope,” Allen said. “We are not going to save all of Africa, by all means, but we can do little things to help one person at a time.”