In theory, this is a good idea. But, my daughter bought a pair of Tom's shoes and they lasted all of maybe 3 months. They developed holes in the upper canvas portion. Regardless of the charitable intent, these shoes do not last, and as such, I'm not sure they are a good option for people who will be using them daily as possibly their only pair of shoes. Are they comfortable? Yes. Are they attractive? Yes. Are they durable? NO!