More than a quarter of a million people went barefoot on Thursday, according to an e-mail sent out by TOMS Shoes.

A little over 40 UA students walked barefoot on the Quad to show their support for the TOMS nationwide One Day Without Shoes event.

“Everything went amazingly well,” said Anna Dudley, a freshman majoring in business and member of the UA TOMS Campus Club. “We had so many people show up, way more than expected.”

Kendra Kimbrell, a freshman majoring in telecommunications and film and also a member of the UA TOMS Campus Club, said she thought the day was perfect.

“I’m so happy the sun came out and it hung out for a while,” she said. “It was just the way I wanted it to be.”

According to toms.com, for every pair of TOMS shoes purchased, TOMS gives a pair of shoes to a child in need.

“I participated because it is such a good cause, and it has good motives behind it,” said Nic Gulas, a senior majoring in telecommunications and film. “It brings attention to something some people don’t really think is that big of a deal.”

Kimbrell said throughout the day she had several people ask her why she was barefoot.

“When I walked in my first class … I got a few looks,” she said. “Finally someone was like ‘Why don’t you have shoes on?,’ so I had to tell everyone what was going on. It made me feel really good to share the word.”

Gulas said everyone who participated in the event seemed to be really motivated and wanted to make a statement for One Day Without Shoes.

“Just walking around today made me realize how it is to have shoes on your feet versus not having any,” Gulas said. “I have five or six pairs … there are some kids in the world who don’t have any.”

Kimbrell said she believes events like One Day Without Shoes are important, especially on a local level.

“We all look at the world and how screwed up it is and how we can fix it,” she said. “Really to start something big, you have to start local.”