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Posted on December 08, 2008
Saving Soles
It's something you probably do every day, more than once a day put on your shoes.
But what if you didn't have any?
Around the world, lots of kids come from families that can't afford even a cheap pair.
But now, there's a man in Charlotte, North Carolina, who's trying to save their soles.
His name is Emmanuel Ohonme, and he leads an organization called "Samaritan's Feet."
This month, Ohonme led a group of Charlotte middle-school students on a mission to South Africa. Not only did the students plan to deliver shoes to kids whose families cannot afford a pair; they also planned to wash the children's feet.
"Many times they put Americans on a pedestal," Ohonme told News 14 Carolina reporter Aaron Mesmer. "Now we reverse the role."
According to the "Samaritan's Feet" website, Ohonme's unusual mission was inspired by an act of kindness he experienced, while growing up in the west African nation of Nigeria.
He says a stranger from Wisconsin befriended him, and gave him a pair of tennis shoes.
The shoes allowed Ohonme to participate in sports, which led to a full basketball scholarship at an American college. And his college education led to "an executive position in a leading technology company," the website says.
But Ohonme never forgot where he came from. And he never forgot about the millions of other kids around the world in Africa and other places who go through life barefoot because of poverty.
So Ohonme left his executive position and founded "Samaritan's Feet. He has delivered shoes not only to South Africa, but also Ethiopia, Brazil, Ecuador, Kenya, Cameroon and Nigeria places where poverty or war or religious persecution, or a combination of those factors, have left people with nothing to put on their feet.
"We're just trying to help this be a better place to live," said 8th grader Tania Morales, in an interview with News 14. Tania is one of the kids who accompanied Ohonme on the mission.
While in South Africa, Ohonme's group also planned to host sporting events and get medical help to both children and adults. The group may have been inspired by a pair of shoes. But it's grown to serve the mind, body and spirit, not just the soles, the heels and the toes.
As the website says, Ohonme's ultimate goal is "touching their hearts with the love of God."
"We're going down there to tell them, 'We love you,'" he told News 14. "The One who created you loves you."
For Emmanuel Ohonme, the way to a person's heart is through his feet.
But what if you didn't have any?
Around the world, lots of kids come from families that can't afford even a cheap pair.
But now, there's a man in Charlotte, North Carolina, who's trying to save their soles.
His name is Emmanuel Ohonme, and he leads an organization called "Samaritan's Feet."
This month, Ohonme led a group of Charlotte middle-school students on a mission to South Africa. Not only did the students plan to deliver shoes to kids whose families cannot afford a pair; they also planned to wash the children's feet.
"Many times they put Americans on a pedestal," Ohonme told News 14 Carolina reporter Aaron Mesmer. "Now we reverse the role."
According to the "Samaritan's Feet" website, Ohonme's unusual mission was inspired by an act of kindness he experienced, while growing up in the west African nation of Nigeria.
He says a stranger from Wisconsin befriended him, and gave him a pair of tennis shoes.
The shoes allowed Ohonme to participate in sports, which led to a full basketball scholarship at an American college. And his college education led to "an executive position in a leading technology company," the website says.
But Ohonme never forgot where he came from. And he never forgot about the millions of other kids around the world in Africa and other places who go through life barefoot because of poverty.
So Ohonme left his executive position and founded "Samaritan's Feet. He has delivered shoes not only to South Africa, but also Ethiopia, Brazil, Ecuador, Kenya, Cameroon and Nigeria places where poverty or war or religious persecution, or a combination of those factors, have left people with nothing to put on their feet.
"We're just trying to help this be a better place to live," said 8th grader Tania Morales, in an interview with News 14. Tania is one of the kids who accompanied Ohonme on the mission.
While in South Africa, Ohonme's group also planned to host sporting events and get medical help to both children and adults. The group may have been inspired by a pair of shoes. But it's grown to serve the mind, body and spirit, not just the soles, the heels and the toes.
As the website says, Ohonme's ultimate goal is "touching their hearts with the love of God."
"We're going down there to tell them, 'We love you,'" he told News 14. "The One who created you loves you."
For Emmanuel Ohonme, the way to a person's heart is through his feet.
Copyright 2003-2009 Samaritan's Feet. All rights reserved.
Not affiliated with Samaritan's Purse.
Not affiliated with Samaritan's Purse.
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