BVU Students to Host "Barefoot Walk" April 16

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Some of the participants in the barefoot walk on campus last year.

STORM LAKE, IA (04/10/2013)(readMedia)--  Buena Vista University (BVU) students are hosting a barefoot walk event on April 16 in support of a national service project, "One Day Without Shoes" to provide shoes for needy children.

This will be the second year that BVU students have hosted the event as part of the national effort (www.onedaywithoutshoes.com/) which is sponsored by TOMS Shoes, a company that matches every pair of its shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes that it gives to a child in need. The barefoot walk around campus will start at 4 p.m. at the Victory Bell.

The students have already raised funds by selling T-shirts, says John Killpack, a senior environmental science and biology double major from Logan, who is coordinating the local event. Proceeds will be donated to Upper Des Moines Opportunity and "Love Takes Root," a Spencer-based organization that sponsors an orphanage in Haiti, to help buy shoes for needy children. The Alta-Aurelia High School also partnered with BVU students to raise money for the project.

John is an officer in Student MOVE (Mobilizing Outreach and Volunteer Efforts), an organization that coordinates student service activities. Student MOVE, Human Performance Service Organization (HIPSO), Student Activities Board (SAB), and Oxfam America are collaborating to host this event

John, who traveled with other BVU students on an alternative spring break trip last month to Haiti to work at the orphanage, says, "Having the opportunity to visit third-world countries and learn about the health concerns connected with poverty really made me passionate about bringing awareness to this issue," he says. "My goal was to raise money for local causes and try to bring more connections to the BVU campus and the Storm Lake community."

The student groups are encouraging people to go shoeless the entire day to bring awareness to the cause. At BVU, students will be able to go barefoot for the day where it is safe and okay to do so, but have to wear shoes in the science labs, art labs and the food service and dining area.

At 7 p.m. at The Underground on the BVU campus, SAB will host a "Style your TOMS" event where students can decorate their own TOMS shoes.