I just plopped myself down on the bed in my Venice apartment after a long day of travel. It took all day to get back from my Shoe Drop in New Orleans this past week, and this is the first moment I’ve had to really relax and reflect on a week of giving with TOMS. I have been interning in the creative department at TOMS since early summer, and when I got the chance to go to New Orleans, I jumped on it. At TOMS, I do a lot of writing and editing to make sure everything we say is in line with our mission and our movement. My days are filled with rearranging sentences and drafting stories about what TOMS is up to next. Even in an office environment as unique and engaging as TOMS HQ, focusing on such specific tasks can sometimes make me feel disconnected from the big picture at TOMS , and I can lose sight of what I’m working toward. I often joke that I’m trying to save the world one misplaced comma at a time.

New Orleans though, was the perfect opportunity for me to see the ultimate result of my work. It was an incredible experience in that respect. To put shoes on the feet of children and know that the little things that I do, combined with the little things the team back at HQ do, can have such a undeniably profound effect on so many individuals and even an entire city or region.

The schools we visited were amazing. As inspiring as the TOMS movement is, the individuals that facilitated our drops – the teachers and administrators who worked at the New Orleans schools – were equal heroes in my mind. They welcomed us into their schools with open arms, and it was quickly evident that they are working toward many of the same goals we have at TOMS. They are trying to impact as many people as possible in a positive way. It was inspiring to see people devote their time and energy to creating a culture of learning that is undeniably going to help so many children do amazing things in the future.

One child told me that he had seen the AT&T commercial and wanted to go to a different country to help Blake. I was floored to learn firsthand, just how far-reaching our message has become and realized that we could very well be putting shoes on the feet of future Chief Shoe Givers. And why stop at Chief Shoe Giver? One student told me that he put an American flag on his shoes because he planned on being the President of the United States.These teachers are really doing everything they can to make these kinds of goals a reality, equipping these children with everything they need to succeed, despite not having the opportunities or resources that other schools in the country might have.

I was amazed at the sheer quantity of shoes that we were going through at times, and I realized why we work so hard at HQ to promote our products and our movement. Because of the generosity of TOMS supporters, we were able to not just help out some children at these schools, but all of them. It felt great to really do a job right and leave knowing that you touched every student in at least a small way. I will never forget my experience, and the spirit of New Orleans and its people will have a lasting impact on all the work I do for TOMS in the future. This is a city that may need help, but it is also a city filled with people who are willing to roll up their sleeves and commit to making it a better New Orleans every day. I’m lucky to have been a small part of that.

Shamus Eaton
Editorial Assistant – Creative Department – TOMS Shoes HQ

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Tags:   blake mycoskie · children · giving · giving first-hand · inspiration · intern · new orleans · New Orleans Shoe Drop · schools · shoes · toms shoes · volunteer
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