By Tracey Stipp, Samaritan’s Feet Marketing Volunteer

The women of the Junior Women’s Club of Perquimans County, Hertford, NC recently sponsored a 5K race to help raise funds for Samaritan’s Feet. Using their passion for fitness as a way to raise awareness for children and people in need is a story that is inspiring in its simplicity. A common, everyday activity such as running can impact people’s lives around the world with a little bit of forethought and planning. Let’s hear what Erica Gregory of the Women’s Club had to say about the experience.

What first caught your attention about Samaritan’s Feet and the work they do to care and to encourage people by giving them shoes and meeting one of their most basic needs?

Although we are an organization not affiliated with any one religious belief, the fact that Samaritan’s Feet is a Christian organization is what first caught my attention. The love, humility, and selflessness shown to a person by washing their feet and giving them a pair of new shoes is just so beautiful to me. Providing free shoes was also part of catching my attention. Shoes are a great love of mine, and I know that a new pair of shoes can change your attitude.

What inspired you to sponsor a 5K race to benefit Samaritan’s Feet?

Our group knew we wanted to do something big as a fundraiser. We wanted to partner with an organization that not only represented our club but one that also represented the General Federation of Women’s Clubs. We are a fun-loving, caring, servant minded group, who just happen to love SHOES! Shoes, hope, and serving others; what’s not to love?! While our initial idea was to fundraise for our community by doing a 5K, it was the partnership with Samaritan’s Feet and the goal to “provide new shoes and hope for a person in need,” that gave vision and purpose to our journey.

What do you hope to accomplish by putting the motto “to provide new shoes and hope for a person in need” on the souvenir t-shirts and water bottles from the race?

Most people take every day clothing items like shoes for granted. Having the motto on race day memorabilia gives participants opportunities to think about the true essence of Samaritan’s Feet. There are so many great organizations out there, but often people overlook the ones that take care of basic necessities. The motto shows that while yes, shoes are a necessity, they are so much more; they are hope.

How many runners ran the 5K and what financial goal did you reach?

We had 64 participants and 80 registrants. When deciding how to pay for the timing company, water bottles and other race day goods, our 5K committee decided that we would allocate all money from registration to Samaritan’s Feet. Registration for the race was $25. We do not yet have an exact dollar amount on the financial goal that was met, but speaking for the group, we were all very pleased with the turn out.

Were you encouraged to see runners of all ages coming out to support Samaritan’s Feet?

Yes! I think it goes to show that no matter what your age is, people are willing to help for a good cause, especially when that cause helps others with such basic needs. I think that kids, even more so than adults, understand and appreciate the happiness that can come from a basic need being met.

Why do you think the goals of Samaritan’s Feet appeal to young and old people, singles, families and basically people from all walks of life?

The appeal lies in the goodness and simplicity of the mission and its goals, and the hope that is provided to others through the organization. All people, regardless of age, religion, ethnicity, or gender, understand how important it is to do something good and kind for a fellow human being. Those who are fortunate know what it is like to put on a new pair of shoes, and they appreciate helping others enjoy tangible hope through a new pair of shoes.

Do you plan on making the 5K race an annual event? If so, what advice would you give to others who would like to support Samaritan’s Feet by starting their own 5K race?

YES! We do plan on making the 5K an annual event. This 5K race surpassed all of our expectations. After the race, I received an email from a club member whose co-worker came out to volunteer and who was already encouraging us to go ahead and set a date for next year. I had one runner after the race suggest to me that we collect shoes next year along with the registration fee. My advice to others would be to start early and to allow plenty of time to plan. Make sure you have a safe location for your runners to run. The beauty of this event is that you can tweak it and design it to fit your organization’s personality while working towards a great cause. The interaction with the people at Samaritan’s Feet was invaluable to me. They gave me advice, encouragement, and were extremely helpful with all of our design needs (i.e. flyers, t-shirts, water bottles, and banner). We could NOT have done it without them.

Thanks for the great story, Erica! We look forward to hearing about future 5K races!

By Tracey Stipp, Samaritan’s Feet Marketing Volunteer

Maria Hobbs is a 10th grade student at Grace Academy in North Carolina. Maria heard Samaritan’s Feet Founder and President Manny Ohonme speak at her school about the millions of people worldwide who live without basic shoes. Inspired by the vision and story of Samaritan’s Feet, Maria decided to use her upcoming 16th birthday as a way to help provide shoes for those who most need them. Maria and her friends and family raised a total of 127 pairs of shoes. This is what she had to say.

What about the story of Samaritan’s Feet most motivated you to find a way to be involved?

What motivated me to be involved with Samaritan’s Feet was the powerful message that Mr. Ohonme gave during chapel at my school, Grace Academy. As Christians, we are asked to go out and make disciples…and Mr. Ohonme’s story about the basketball tournament was awesome. I found it so cool to hear about how one person with a pair of shoes could change a kid’s life.

How did you use your birthday as a way to raise shoes for Samaritan’s Feet?

I used my birthday as means to collect shoes by making an announcement at my church, All Saints Anglican, that I had a goal of collecting 100 shoes by my 16th birthday, by handing out fliers to people in my neighborhood, talking to friends at church, getting my Bible study group to have a “shoe party” and definitely praying about it.

Was it hard to give up your presents for the sake of raising shoes for Samaritan’s Feet?

No, it was not hard to give up my presents to donate shoes. I didn’t need anything that I didn’t already have. Knowing that so many children were going to benefit from a new pair of shoes on their feet was the biggest present I could ever ask for.

What did you enjoy the most about the whole shoe raising experience?

The thing I enjoyed most about this whole experience was all the encouragement and support I received from friends and family. Everyone was so generous and helpful and very glad to help. It is a wonderful feeling knowing that other kids were going to be blessed.

Did you have any fears or concerns about asking young people to help support Samaritan’s Feet?

Actually, I did not have any fears or concerns about asking anyone to support Samaritan’s Feet. I knew that God was in control and no matter what comments I received, I wasn’t about me at all. This was about the kids who were going to receive the shoes. It was fun.

What did you learn from the whole experience and how would you encourage other students your age to get involved?

What I learned about this whole experience was what a huge blessing it is to have everything I need in my life and how blessed I am to be here. I often take things for granted and have complained about how I don’t have enough clothes, or the latest gadget that my friends have, etc. And then I realize that there are people all over the world who have nothing. God teaches us in so many different ways and it was an awesome experience to be taught through a ministry as great as Samaritan’s Feet. I would encourage every teen to go out in their community, schools, churches and do something for others, by volunteering or collecting shoes, food, clothes, Bibles, etc. It is a powerful thing and it will change your view on how blessed we are. I challenge you to make a difference.

Thank you, Maria!

Our founder, Manny Ohonme, has been invited to speak at the Chick-fil-A Leadercast live broadcast event on May 4 hosted by York Christian Chamber!

For more about the Chick-fil-A Leadercast click here.

Click here to learn more and register to attend the York Christian Chamber location.

“Barefoot Rick” Roeber will run the Garmin Marathon this Saturday, April 21 in his bare feet… and when he crosses that finish line he’ll celebrate his 20,000th barefoot running mile.

Rick has been running in his bare feet since 2003. For the past 9 years he has logged his barefoot running miles with GPS devices. On race day, he will be wearing his Garmin 305 with only a marathon distance between him and 20,000 barefoot miles.

To mark this achievement, Barefoot Rick decided to partner with Samaritan’s Feet to provide shoes for individuals who are without comfortable shoes that fit well and protect them from health hazards. We spoke with him about how he started his mission and why he believes Samaritan’s Feet has an important goal.

Will you tell us about your campaign?
On April 21 at the Garmin Marathon in Olathe, Kansas I’ll be competing in my 56th barefoot marathon. I’ll run barefoot for 26.2 miles that day and cross the finish line at exactly 20,000 barefoot miles since taking up barefoot running in 2003. To celebrate I’m partnering with Samaritan’s Feet to provide shoes for individuals around the world.

What inspired you to begin running without shoes?
I’ve been running barefoot since October 2003. Before my bare feet days, I ran 18 marathons and thousands of miles with shoes. I like to describe myself as a challenged “shod” runner, because I would over stride thereby heel striking. Since heel striking is a major cause of knee stress, I continually injured my knees to the point where I either needed surgery or to stop running altogether. After reading about how barefoot running forces proper technique, I began my experiment with barefoot running. I subsidized my shod running with barefoot running for the next six months, until April 2004 when I ran the Boston Marathon barefoot. Since April 2004, I have run exclusively barefoot, logging thousands of miles annually. In addition, I have completed dozens of barefoot marathons and three barefoot ultra marathons (two of them over 40 miles, and one over 60 miles).

In what ways did Samaritan’s Feet’s mission especially resonate with you?
I believe we are privileged in this country to be able to choose to wear shoes or not. Some do not have that luxury. Having traveled this world, I know what a new pair of shoes and socks mean to a child. A simple act of kindness in this regard can quickly elevate their cultural status and provide safety against harsh terrains.

Why did you decide to connect your barefoot running and your desire to change people’s lives through shoes?
Running without shoes is one thing. Living without shoes is another when to do so puts limitations on health, wellness, and socio-economic status. It just seemed like a good “fit” to help others who have no choice but to go shoeless with the opportunity to do otherwise.

How have you spread the word about your campaign?
Facebook, emails and press releases.

What advice would you give to others who are thinking of starting a campaign?
Start early and look for creative ways to spread the message.

You can help spread the word about Barefoot Rick’s endeavor to provide shoes for those most in need or donate here. Samaritan’s Feet can put a pair of shoes on a person anywhere in the world we go for $10, so a $20 contribution will result in 2 people receiving a new pair of shoes/socks, having their feet washed and hearing a message of hope. Rick’s goal is $2,000 for 20,000 miles!

Please join us September 21, 2012 for the Samaritan’s Feet 9th Annual Charity Golf Tournament at the Carolina Lakes Golf Club.

In 2003, Samaritan’s Feet inaugurated the annual tournament as a key fund-raising event to continuously support and expand the programs and shoe distribution services the non-profit organization offers. Last year’s event had over 120 participants from all over the country, including former NFL players such as: Craig Thompson – Cincinnati; Troy Pelshak – Rams (Super Bowl XXXIV, 2000); Leonard Wheeler – Carolina Panthers; Rod Smith – New England and Carolina; Walter Rasby – Pittsburg, Carolina, Red Skins; Mo Collins – Oakland; Eugene Robinson – Carolina Panthers; and Donnie Shell – Pittsburg Steelers). Over 25 corporate sponsors, and contributors from the Carolinas supported the event.

Thanks to all the support from our contributors, sponsors, volunteers, and team captains who accepted the Captain’s Challenge, we raised more than $45,000 last year! Our goal is to have this fund-raiser support the ongoing operations of Samaritan’s Feet in support of the local distributions in the U.S.

If you would like sponsorship information and/or registration information for playing at this year’s event, and/or if you would like information on how you can contribute funds or donations for our raffles and silent auction, please contact Davida Serrani at dserrani@samaritansfeet.org or register online.

We thank all of our sponsors:

2012:

Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated // Red Rocks Café // Snyder’s Lance, Inc. // Liberty Mutual // Bella Tunno // Carolina Lakes Golf Club – Sun City // HiSoft

2011:

Chick-Fill-A Ardrey Kell // Force Management // Firethorn Country Club // The Golf Club at Ballantyne // Maggiano’s Little Italy // ARAMARK // Beantown Tavern // Price Waterhouse Coopers // Transportation Insight // Curtis 1000

You’ve probably heard us say this before: our mission is bigger than providing shoes to meet physical needs. That is a crucial aspect of what we do, but ultimately our aim is to use shoes as a vehicle to inspire hope.

We’d love to share a couple of stories that we’ve recently received from our partners at Samaritan’s Feet – Peru. These stories portray true humble service and inspiration for hope…. our shoes in action:

Estefania

“Estefania is 76 and a widow. She is very poor and lives in a cardboard house. She recently took charge of raising her four grandchildren, ages 8, 10, 13 and 16.

The children’s father died of cirrhosis. Their mother, left alone to care for their children, traveled to Chile to find a better job. A month after arriving in Chile she was tragically murdered by criminals.

Samaritan’s Feet – Peru, hearing this story, went to her home, prayed with her, washed her and her grandchildren’s feet, and made a commitment to continue supporting her with all we can do.”

Martha

“On April 2, Samaritan’s Feet – Peru’s volunteers conducted a project in Marquez and we heard the story of Martha who is 61 years old, very poor, and has a disabled husband who cannot work. In order to earn some money to eat she worked as a cook in another’s house. In a cooking accident, she suffered second-degree burns on her face, neck, chest and arms and is now unable to work.

Pray for Sister Martha and her speedy recovery.”

We are so thankful for our partners in Peru for their humble service and for each Samaritan’s Feet ambassador who makes stories like these possible.

If you’ve missed our updates on Facebook or Twitter, here are a few photos from our week so far in New Orleans! We’ve been teaming up with Buick and the NCAA to provide 2012 pairs of shoes to local individuals, and we have had incredible volunteers serving alongside us.

We’d love for you to like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter to stay connected in real time!

Day 1: Serving 398 elementary students

Day 2: Serving 450 neighbors who are very young, elderly or have special needs

Day 3: Serving 325 elementary students

Day 4: Serving 867 elementary students

The following is a personal account from Scott Zigmond who traveled with Samaritan’s Feet this month to deliver shoes and a message of hope to children in Haiti.

This photo summarizes what we saw and felt that day and through the week—love, service, and presence of the Lord. Manny had just finished telling his unbelievably moving story about how a missionary changed his life when he was nine years old. The hundreds of people who were there all loudly agreed about how good God is to us. We then began the shoe distribution and Georgia [pictured] was one of the first to wash feet and provide shoes. As she finished up this little girl, I happened to be watching and snapped this shot.

This shot shows Georgia hugging the little girl and “loving on her” as we were encouraged to do. In addition, you can see Georgia’s face and her closed eyes and it reflects to me the presence she maintained with this child throughout the time they had with one another. Her loving spirit and Christ’s strength streams from this image and it’s almost as if Georgia is taking that love and Christ’s spirit and giving it to this little girl with a firm hug.

Thanks to Scott for sharing his story! Stay tuned; we will continue to share personal accounts from our partners who are making a difference in the lives of children who wake up each morning without a proper pair of shoes to put on their feet.

Dancing barefoot at the middle(junior) high and high school prom this year can provide shoes for and awareness about the kids all over the world who walk shoeless, or in ill-fitting shoes, every day and can’t afford this basic form of physical protection.

Samaritan’s Feet invites every middle and high school in the U.S. to hold a Barefoot Prom in 2012. A Barefoot Prom keeps the theme, music and dancing of the pre-planned prom and adds the component of dancing barefoot for a cause. Students can raise funds by taking their shoes off to dance (it’s more comfortable anyway!) and paying $10 by mobile text or with cash to retrieve them at the end of the night. Each $10 payment provides one under-served child with a new pair of shoes through a Samaritan’s Feet shoe distribution.

Be one of many schools across the nation to have a Barefoot Prom and use this fun event to fuel a mission to bring hope and health through shoes. Samaritan’s Feet will support you by providing an individualized fundraising page to host event details and a media package to highlight your school’s dedication to our cause.

Raise awareness about the plight of children, many in your own community, who cannot afford to buy a new pair of shoes. Use the money you raise at your Barefoot Prom to fund a local Samaritan’s Feet shoe distribution and share the experience of gifting the shoes, or contribute to a distribution already planned in another city. Either way, your school will make a real difference in children’s lives.

To learn more, contact Barefoot Entertainment Director Peter Rieke at 704.575.1993 or at prieke@samaritansfeet.org.

On January 19, we teamed up with volunteers from Little Rock Christian Academy and the Little Rock Black Police Officers Association to wash the feet of deserving children in Little Rock and provide them with new shoes.

We think these words and photos from Little Rock Christian students tell the story best:

“Samaritan’s Feet gave us the opportunity to serve the children of our community and to share the love and joy of Christ. We arrived with the expectation of providing companionship and joy to these kids, and we soon realized that they imparted blessings onto us abundantly. Serving those children was both a humbling and fulfilling experience, and I am sure that each and every person there saw the redeeming power of Christ and felt the abounding love of GOD”
-Christian Shewmake, 11th grade

“After I was on water duty, I took a break and went to wash feet. As I waited for someone to come, a little African-American girl came and sat down. I asked her what her name was, and she said it was Noya. As I washed her feet, I asked her questions about herself, like what school she went to, what her hobbies were and if she liked music. When I put on her socks, I asked her if she knew who Jesus was. She said no. as I put on her first shoe (before she had on an old pair of “Twinkle Toes”), I explained to her that He was the Son of God who died on the cross to wash away our sins. As I put on her second shoe, I told her, if she wanted, we could pray to God so she could get her name in the Lamb’s Book of Life and live forever in Heaven. “Do you want to live eternally in joy and happiness in heaven?” I asked. She said “yes”. I took her around the corner, and we prayed. I asked her if she accepted Jesus as her savior, if she believed He died on the cross, believed He exists as well, and believed He’s the Son of God. She said yes every time. As we wrapped up, we got up and walked to a “runner”. Feeling happy and content inside, I waved good-bye. THE END!”
-Grace Faulk, 7th grade

“Having the opportunity to participate in the Samaritan’s Feet distribution was in a way the greatest experience of my ‘life’. I will explain why…near the end of the book of John, John lays out the reason for which Jesus did all of the things he did and why John wrote the book. It says, “…so that you may believe that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name”(John 20:31). My life is not just simply the number of days I have lived, but it is the life Christ has given me to bestow on others. In this way, I should be like John, in anything I write, say, do, etc.-it should be for the purpose of letting other believe and have life as well. Samaritan’s Feet was an absolutely perfect place to do this. Because of the organization, the door to Christ’s gospel was swung wide open for many! I will not soon forget the faces and personalities of the kids whom I washed feet, but more importantly God will not forget them and their names will (with great hope) be written in the Book of Life for eternity!”
-Landon Trulove, 11th grade

See more photos here.