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A Day in the Life of Samaritan's Feet!
Posted on August 14, 2009

 

August 8th is landmark day for Samaritan’s Feet!
 
August 8th, 2009 signified a historic day for Samaritan’s Feet: A record six states conducted simultaneous Shoes of Hope events at nine locations across the United States! From California to Florida, Samaritan’s Feet volunteers brought a life changing message of hope and compassion to thousands of people in need by individually washing the feet of each recipient and placing new shoes and socks on their feet. 
 
In partnership with Finish Line, United Way, churches, schools, and other organizations, Samaritan's Feet volunteers demonstrated servant leadership and kindness towards those less fortunate, guaranteeing that each person left the distributions with a new pair of shoes, and perhaps even more important, validation that they are loved and relevant.
 
Consider the following:
  • Pastor Mel Rolls of Rescue Atlanta Homeless Shelter and his team of volunteers washed feet and provided new shoes for five hundred impoverished people in Miami.
  • In Collinsville, Virginia, Transportation Insight employee Patrick Berry and his wife Chessed led a distribution of nearly one thousand pairs of shoes for people in need.
  • Corona, California was the site of a Shoes of Hope Distribution for 320 children.  Under the leadership of Samaritan’s Feet Regional Manager Alton Green and in partnership with OneLite, students not only received new shoes, but free haircuts, school supplies, sweaters, and food.
  • Florida State University Women’s Basketball Coach Sue Semrau, her staff and players joined forces with Samaritan’s Feet to change the lives of 200 children in Tallahassee. Coach Sue was among dozens of volunteers who washed children’s feet and provided them with new athletic shoes.
  • In Bradshaw, West Virginia, Samaritan’s Feet Regional Coordinators Doug Shazter and Jay Rollins led a team that distributed 300 pairs of shoes.
  • Between Youth Minister Simeon Moultrie at Bible Way Church and Tyrone Jenkins at North Trenholm Baptist, over 700 young people in Columbia, South Carolina were blessed with new shoes.
  • "Papa” Henry Hennington at Suburban Baptist Church and his volunteers in Lexington, South Carolina impacted 200 children with a message of hope and new shoes just in time for back-to-school.
  • After only attending his first distribution three weeks ago, ARAMARK Corporation employee Tom Batewell led a distribution for 600 children in Saluda, South Carolina. Tom was assisted by Ferlondo Tullock, Saluda County School District, and Sharon Holloway, Saluda County DSS.
 All total, hundreds of Samaritan’s Feet volunteers throughout the country touched the lives of over three thousand three hundred people who are struggling financially. 
 
Though we celebrate the opportunity to bless so many in need, the mission of Samaritan’s Feet does not slow down: On August 15th, volunteers in Jackson, Mississippi will bless one thousand economically struggling citizens in their community with new shoes. 
 
Combined with distributions scheduled that same day in South Carolina and Washington D.C. (along with numerous Shoes of Hope events internationally), Samaritan’s Feet will remain dedicated to reaching out to those in need and to be agents of change throughout the global community.