Giving Back Day 5: Buy One Give One

Photo of a young girl wearing yellow Roma rain bootsMany people are familiar with TOMS Shoes, a company which guarantees that, for each pair of its funky shoes that you buy, they will give a new pair of shoes to a child in need.

TOMS’ founder, Blake Mycoskie, decided to start TOMS after traveling around Argentina in 2006 and noticing that many children didn’t have shoes. Thanks to engaging storytelling and a sticky idea, TOMs has seen incredible success. As of September 2010, TOMS has given away over 1,000,000 pairs of shoes.

What is lesser known, however, is that this “one for one” model is catching on. Check out Mashable’s list of Ten Inspiring “Buy One Give One” Projects and find ways to give blankets, glasses, flashlights, soccer balls, and more to those you love and to those who are less fortunate–at the same time!