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TOMS Asks: Can You Go One Day Without Shoes? April 5 Is TOMS Shoes “Day Without Shoes”

April 5 is a “Day Without Shoes.” Will you go barefoot for change? To help kids in the developing world get footwear?

By

Alex Goldmark

By  Alex Goldmark
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[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BitShRujoeA

The buy-one-give-one shoe company, TOMS shoes, is hosting its annual day of action, “A Day Without Shoes,” on Tuesday, April 5. Can you go one day without shoes to let your neighbors, classmates, co-workers, or just one confused stranger know you care about the the millions of kids around the world too poor to own shoes?

Last year’s campain sparked 1,600 events. More than 250,000 people bared their toes in solidarity with the millions of children around the world who trod about their communities sans shoes every day. Each pair of TOMS shoes sold in the developing world funds a pair of shoes for kids in poorer countries, so the company organizes these kinds of events to boost sales, but also to raise awareness its business model tries to solve. The company has sold, and therefore donated, more than 1 million pairs so far.

Celebrities joined in the Day Without Shoes last year and are sure to do so again. One mass audience highlight from 2010 was Demi Moore taking off her shimmering silver heels during an interview with Jay Leno, who also bared his black socks.

“Well, that’s an attractive look,” Jay Says sarcastically showing off his feet. Moore counters, “but the point of it is, is for everyone to recognize what it would feel like to be without shoes.”

Strolling across a soundstage without socks on doesn’t quite let us know what it’s like to risk injury and infection from soil-transmitted disease that hundreds of millions of children endure as part of daily life in the developing world. But many of the events have more detailed educational components to them.

Find an event to attend in your city here. So far there are almost 700 to choose from. Add your own if you want to get active but don’t see something happening nearby. TOMS makes it easy with an organizing toolkit with fliers, signs, and event ideas. And if you can’t quite bare your feet for the cause, then follow along on Twitter with hashtag #withoutshoes.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis is leading the organizing pack with almost 2,000 people pledging to go shoeless for the cause. We’ll see if any other school or organization can top that.

If you plan to go rogue with a solo barefoot trip to work, make sure you aren’t violating any local health codes. Schools, for one, are unlikely to let you wander the indoor halls barefoot. Then again, think about it. If there’s a health code violation for going barefoot for one day a year, what is the health implication of going barefoot for your whole childhood?

[An earlier version of this post misstated the full name of IUPUI]

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    Photo credit: Canva – A lone soldier and friends celebrating.
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    Air Force graduate tears up when friend steps in to ‘tap him out’ during graduation

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    @slimgudda305

    1 year ago today. it’s been a journey man still can’t believe i’ve made it this far but is only the beginning more blessing to come💫#fypシ #militarytapout #explorepage

    ♬ Gods creation – daniel.mp3

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    Caught completely off guard, a teary-eyed Usher smiles, turning what could have been a lonely memory into one defined by friendship. He posted the video on TikTok with a title overlay reading, “i had no one at my graduation to tap me out but that one good friend i met during training found me and come through for me…”

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    @dosagetrend

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    An overwhelming gesture

    In an exclusive interview with People, Usher described how important that kind act was, leaving him holding back tears:

    “When my friend tapped me out, I was overwhelmed in the best way possible. It wasn’t just about finishing, it was about having someone there who truly had my back in that moment.”

    Usher went on to explain that the achievement was important, but the friendship and support shown to him are what he remembers most. After sharing the moment online, he was surprised by all the feedback. He believes the overwhelming response was a strong reminder of the beauty behind meaningful acts of kindness.

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    TikTok post resonates

    After 4.6 million views, people flooded the comments with emotional reactions. For some, the small gesture perfectly captured the kind of bond people form while going through difficult experiences together. This wasn’t a performative moment—just someone refusing to let another person experience an important occasion alone.

    For others, it was heartbreaking. Often, soldiers don’t have family members who are able to make the trip, or they find themselves on a solitary journey. Either way, the idea that people can accomplish something amazing and still be left to stand alone afterward can be difficult to swallow.

    Here are some of the comments:

    “i’m glad you made a good friend along the way who came looking for ya. those are the meaningful connections you make while in the military”

    “now this just broke my heart”

    “Those teary eyes”

    “This just breaks my heart! Everyone should have someone tap them out. So much respect for the military”

    “The pain in bros eyes. Went to my soul. Brother we are here for u! Ty for serving”

    “sometimes thats all we need! Just one good friend”

    “I’m so sorry no one from your bloodline was there for you in that moment but you have all of TikTok cheering you on and we are so proud of your accomplishments”

    “Ex military that tap means more than you think.”

    “i really wish they had a volunteer program for something like this… let other mamas and dads come and be there for these young men and women.. we never know how bad they just need SOMEONE to be there for them”

    “Been there my man. But you’re going to be an amazing soldier. Use that to be the best you can be”

    The mix of responses shows why meaningful moments shouldn’t be faced alone. Friendship and community are defined by simple choices: stepping in, showing up, and refusing to let a proud day also become someone’s loneliest. These small acts turn milestone accomplishments into memories carried forward with a tearful, joyful smile.

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    Survey methodology: The Melanoma Research Alliance commissioned Atomik Research to conduct an online survey of 2,000 U.S. adults between March 27 and April 1, 2026. The sample is nationally representative based on gender, age, and geography. Margin of error: ±2 percentage points at a 95% confidence level. Atomik Research, part of 4media group, is a creative market research agency.

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    To truly understand the context of a household’s income, it must be compared to local costs and long-term goals, which both may fluctuate over time. For most people, the same pillars will make up the biggest nonnegotiables in their budget. These include basic necessities like housing, groceries, utilities, and transportation, and likely some discretionary spending on hobbies, activities, and other enrichment. In an attempt to secure this lifestyle for the future, many households aim to save some of their income for emergencies, investments, retirement, education, and other long-term goals. A common budgeting technique that encapsulates these three pillars is called the 50/30/20 rule: 50% of your post-tax income goes to needs, 30% to your wants, and 20% gets set aside for the future.

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    • The Bay Area is the most expensive place for a family to live comfortably. Bay Area cities make up the top four of the five places with the highest salary needed for a family of four to live comfortably. Incomes across two parents are projected at $407,597 in San Francisco, $402,771 in San Jose, and $371,488 in both Fremont and Oakland. Boston rounds out the top five at $368,742.
    • Families in these Texas cities are closest to a comfortable salary. In Frisco, the median household earns $145,444 — substantially higher than the national median of $83,730. This figure also accounts for 63.1% of the $230,464 income a family of four in Frisco needs to live comfortably. In McKinney, the $124,177 median household income accounts for 53.9% of the $230,464 needed.
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    • Salary needed for a single adult: $158,954
    • Salary needed for a working family of four: $337,875
    • Median household income: $81,228

    2. San Jose, California

    • Salary needed for a single adult: $158,080
    • Salary needed for a working family of four: $402,771
    • Median household income: $148,226

    3. (tie) Irvine, California

    • Salary needed for a single adult: $151,965
    • Salary needed for a working family of four: $327,226
    • Median household income: $145,731

    3. (tie) Anaheim, California

    • Salary needed for a single adult: $151,965
    • Salary needed for a working family of four: $327,226
    • Median household income: $101,145

    3. (tie) Santa Ana, California

    • Salary needed for a single adult: $151,965
    • Salary needed for a working family of four: $327,226
    • Median household income: $95,118

    6. Boston, Massachusetts

    • Salary needed for a single adult: $139,776
    • Salary needed for a working family of four: $368,742
    • Median household income: $97,791

    7. (tie) San Diego, California

    • Salary needed for a single adult: $136,781
    • Salary needed for a working family of four: $312,915
    • Median household income: $111,032

    7. (tie) Chula Vista, California

    • Salary needed for a single adult: $136,781
    • Salary needed for a working family of four: $312,915
    • Median household income: $105,101

    9. San Francisco, California

    • Salary needed for a single adult: $134,950
    • Salary needed for a working family of four: $407,597
    • Median household income: $139,801

    10. (tie) Fremont, California

    • Salary needed for a single adult: $134,410
    • Salary needed for a working family of four: $371,488
    • Median household income: $175,816

    10. (tie) Oakland, California

    • Salary needed for a single adult: $134,410
    • Salary needed for a working family of four: $371,488
    • Median household income: $102,235

    10 Cities With the Lowest Salary Needed to Live Comfortably

    1. San Antonio, Texas
    • Salary needed for a single adult: $83,242
    • Salary needed for a working family of four: $192,608
    • Median household income: $66,176
    1. New Orleans, Louisiana
    • Salary needed for a single adult: $84,406
    • Salary needed for a working family of four: $197,766
    • Median household income: $58,821
    1. Memphis, Tennessee
    • Salary needed for a single adult: $86,320
    • Salary needed for a working family of four: $193,939
    • Median household income: $52,679
    1. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
    • Salary needed for a single adult: $86,861
    • Salary needed for a working family of four: $213,325
    • Median household income: $70,040
    1. Baltimore, Maryland
    • Salary needed for a single adult: $87,485
    • Salary needed for a working family of four: $224,224
    • Median household income: $64,778
    1. Louisville, Kentucky
    • Salary needed for a single adult: $88,234
    • Salary needed for a working family of four: $212,742
    • Median household income: $67,251
    1. Tulsa, Oklahoma
    • Salary needed for a single adult: $88,317
    • Salary needed for a working family of four: $215,238
    • Median household income: $60,930
    1. Winston-Salem, North Carolina
    • Salary needed for a single adult: $88,442
    • Salary needed for a working family of four: $205,421
    • Median household income: $57,758
    1. Tucson, Arizona
    • Salary needed for a single adult: $88,899
    • Salary needed for a working family of four: $218,400
    • Median household income: $60,483
    1. Fort Wayne, Indiana
    • Salary needed for a single adult: $88,982
    • Salary needed for a working family of four: $233,126
    • Median household income: $61,436

    Data and Methodology

    SmartAsset used MIT Living Wage Calculator data to gather the basic cost of living for an individual with no children and for two working adults with two children. Data includes the cost of necessities, including housing, food, transportation, and income taxes. It was last updated to reflect the most recent data available on Feb. 15, 2026.

    Applying these costs to the 50/30/20 budget for 100 of the largest U.S. cities, MIT’s living wage is assumed to cover needs (i.e., 50% of one’s budget). From there, the total annual wage was extrapolated for individuals and families to spend 30% of the total on wants and 20% on savings or debt payments. Median household income data for cities comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 1 Year American Community Survey for 2024.

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