TOMS Campus Club gives more than shoes: Members donate time to local nonprofits

In 2006, Blake Mycoskie visited Argentina when he noticed the children there did not have any shoes. He was inspired to create TOMS, a shoe company that gives free shoes to children in need, with proceeds from the sale of TOMS shoes. In his first year, he was able to give away 10,000 pairs of shoes. As of September 2010, TOMS has reached over 1 million pairs of feet.
For Brittany Jane Dodd, Anne Halverstadt and their branch of TOMS Campus Club, it’s more about the service than the shoes. The girls got a starter kit from TOMS that helped them get a club going at CMU.
“We got 200 signatures and we’re going to send them to TOMS so they can know that CMU supports what they are doing,” Dodd said.
Dodd and Halverstadt’s club is not just about the traditional TOMS motto and mission of “one for one.” The campus club doesn’t actually sell shoes, they have many ways of helping others in need.
“It’s a work in progress, we have so many ideas,” Halverstadt said.
TOMS at CMU recently held a fundraiser at Red Mango and in the future they are hoping for many more events. The girls are planning on hosting a dodge ball tournament, volunteering at the local soup kitchen and a popular TOMS event called “color your soles.” The event allows participants to decorate their own pair of TOMS.
“It’s exciting to start something new and get people excited about it,” Dodd said.
They have plans to donate the money they earn through doing fundraisers and to create a larger club base to better serve the local Grand Junction community.
“Donating time is our main thing right now,” Dodd said.
Both girls have a passion for helping others and aspire to influence people on campus.
“It’s a personal goal for me at least, maybe not even through TOMS. I want to go and help someone that needs it.” Halverstadt said.
The group has taken a mission statement from TOMS and brought it to life at CMU. For anyone interested in joining their club contact them through the information in the CMU website under clubs and organizations.

bmmartin@mavs.coloradomesa.edu

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This post was written by critedev