National Go Barefoot Day

National Go Barefoot Day on June 1st gives us an interesting opportunity to get out of your shoes and run barefoot through the cool grass!

There are many things in life that we take for granted, such as the shoes we wear. You may not think, but there are many things you should think about when wearing shoes and taking advantage of them. This is something that can help you in your daily life, as well as comes with health and comfort benefits. Shoes are such an integral part of our daily lives that we take it for granted.

However, not always people around the world can afford to wear or own a pair of their own shoes, and many people have to walk every day barefoot. This is something that can cause a lot of problems, especially in less developed countries. At the same time, though, there's something appealing about going barefoot now and again, and this is important to get it right as much as possible.

This is one of the reasons leading to the launch and development of the National Go Barefoot Day. This is an annual event that encourages everyone, children and adults, to take off their shoes and socks and go barefoot as much as possible, wherever possible. Of course, going to work or driving will require the use of footwear, but if you're in the garden, at the park or on the beach it would be ideal to go barefoot.

History of National Go Barefoot Day

An unfortunate tsunami in the Indian Ocean in 2004 left many people negatively affected by the event and plunged them into poverty. In an effort to help those victims, Soles4Souls created National Go Barefoot Day.

Although going barefoot is truly liberating and helps us connect with nature, shoes offer a lot of benefits and are extremely useful. It would be ideal if everyone in the world had at least a pair of shoes to use in their daily lives.

The main goal of this charity day is to encourage people to donate shoes, whether used or new, that can be given to less fortunate people in dire need of shoes. Instead of just throwing away your shoes when you're tired of them, wouldn't it be better to give them to someone who can actually use them? We underestimate the difference a usable pair of shoes can make to people who don't have one. Many people can't go to work or school just because they don't have shoes. Donating shoes not only helps solve this problem, but also helps your shoes not simply be a landfill.

Since the founding of this cause, there has been unprecedented and strong support with more than 40.5 million pairs of shoes donated around the world. People are encouraged to help and bring joy into the lives of others through the simple act of donating a pair of shoes.

A Good Fit

Properly fitted shoes are also important. Get rid of shoes that don't fit. Wearing shoes that do not fit your feet is not good for your feet. Why should I donate my shoes?

• When you give away used shoes in a gentle way, you're putting usable shoes away for those who need it most. In many countries, shoes are difficult to wear, especially good shoes to protect the feet from rocks and harsh elements. Even if they do have access to a pair of shoes, they can get worn down, worn out, or don't fit properly. In addition, they may be able to use them on special occasions.
• Donating your shoes will help keep them from ending up in landfills and reduce the amount of “stuff” that ends up in landfills.
• Donating usable, clean and good shoes to the people who will be wearing them to school and work will give the recipient more confidence. It is so amazing that a pair of shoes can create a lot of differences.

Shoes Matter

If you need more motivation to donate your gentle used shoes, consider the following:

• An estimated 300 million children around the world do not have any shoes.
• Children having one pair of shoes will quickly outgrow them.
• Children without shoes cannot go to school because they are often part of the uniform.
• Improved physical activity, including walking, running, jumping and playing.

Advantages of having a good pair of shoes:

• Provide protection for the feet. Without shoes, children are susceptible to soil-borne diseases.
• They protect their feet from tetanus, infections and jiggers which are small parasitic fleas. They enter our body through the soles of the feet. In just 10 days, these tiny fleas grow to 2,000 times their original size, causing pain and difficulty walking.

You may be surprised to learn that shoes are some of the hardest to get in poorer countries where people can make their clothes. However, a durable shoe is much more difficult. This is one of the many reasons that millions of children in poor countries do not enjoy.

How to celebrate National Go Barefoot Day

If you are really serious about getting the chance to celebrate National Go Barefoot Day then you should think about what you can do to get the best out of this. Let's look at the different ways we can celebrate this wonderful day and help make a difference to the world. Of course, the actual act of going barefoot is a great place to start, and as we mentioned above, there are a ton of amazing health benefits that make this a great idea to start.

In addition to actually participating in the barefoot process of the day, you can get involved in charitable activities in other ways. Go through your closets and clean them out; save any shoes you never use or don't want anymore and use them to donate to this noble cause. However, you can get involved even more if this is something close to your heart or you feel strongly about.

For example, in many cases, you might host a shoe shine session in your local community, where you and your friends can drive to people's homes and collect the shoes they'd like to donate, before when giving them away to charity. This way you can do some charity work and then you can organize a barefoot walk on the beach or in the park to help you get the most out of this experience and eat glad to be barefoot.

Whether you're at work or not, find a way to resist shoes, be it running barefoot through the grass and cradling your feet, or slipping your shoes under your desk when your boss isn't looking. Show your support for Soles4Souls, a global charity that is trying to put shoes on for 300 million underprivileged children.