Florida

Samaritan’s Feet Florida conducted its first Shoes of Hope distribution in Miami in 2008, followed by others in Tallahassee and Gainesville in 2009. In 2010, sixteen basketball coaches from thirteen universities, colleges and high schools across Florida shed their shoes to coach a game barefoot and bring awareness of the need for shoes around the world. In 2011 the statewide effort kick-offed with the National Day of Service in Miami that served more than 500 children in need. Churches, schools, coaches, and businesses are stepping up to make this year a very special one for the children and families in the Sunshine State.

Samaritan’s Feet Area Coordinators, Ron and Jackie Pegram moved to Jacksonville on April 1 to lead the effort in Florida. Ron & Jackie have more than 35 years of ministry experience, including 18 months with Samaritan’s Feet in Charlotte, N.C. where Ron served as Chief Operating Officer for the organization. They moved to the Jacksonville, FL, area after Ron finished cancer treatment at the University of Florida Proton Center. Ron said, “As the Area Coordinator I am excited about meeting many ‘Samaritans’ in this great state who will join in collecting new shoes and distributing them locally. Having been the one to set policy as the COO, I’ll now have the opportunity to experience first hand the joy of working with volunteers as we bless the needy in Florida with shoes for their soles and hope for their souls. I look forward to helping others raise shoes through shoe drives and developing new regions across the state.”