Samaritan's Feet

WHY SHOES?

Samaritan's Feet is a humanitarian aid organization that serves and inspires hope by providing shoes to those in need around the world.

See how one pair of shoes started it all: One day at Rowe Park in Lagos, Nigeria, a missionary from Wisconsin, Dave, was hosting games in the park. Nine-year-old Manny Ohonme was selling bottled water there and noticed the basketball contest and decided to join in, despite never playing basketball. He won the contest and the prize was a pair of canvas tennis shoes. This was his very first pair of shoes.

Dave also gave Manny the encouragement to believe in his dreams, reach for the sky, and never give up. This gift of hope propelled Manny to work hard at developing his talents and skills, including basketball.

This hard work and confidence earned Manny a basketball scholarship to a college in the United States, where he met his wife, Tracie. Tracie grew up in North Dakota and also knew the impact of encouragement. She understood the stigma of sometimes being treated less than, as she and her family were often on welfare. From these experiences, Tracie began to see the impact that encouragement and hope can have on someone's life.

Manny and Tracie went to visit family in Nigeria. That trip changed everything. They noticed things were still the same— children were still walking around barefoot and families were still struggling to provide. And in that moment, their passions and life-experiences collided and became a vision for Samaritan's Feet. Determined to make a difference in both of their homes, Manny and Tracie began Samaritan's Feet in 2003.

SHOES GIVE HOPE

Promote good HEALTH and well-being by creating a strong foundation.

Create OPPORTUNITIES by encouraging and equipping those we serve.

With shoes and proper self-care instructions, individuals can be protected from foot-borne diseases, of which over 1.5 billion are infected worldwide. Feet are your foundation and can take you many places in life, so let's make sure they are strong.

When an individual has proper footwear, they can focus comfortably at work, school, or on other needs. This can have positive long-term effects on the quality of life in those we serve around the world.

Promote PEACE when communities humbly serve one another.

Boost EDUCATION as children are comfortable and confident in school.

Volunteers from diverse backgrounds come together with those in need to serve them. This platform can prompt conversations and relationships that symbolize and ignite unity.

Shoes are often a requirement to attend school.

When children have proper footwear, they have access to education; they have the chance to learn and pursue their dreams.

GET INVOLVED

VOLUNTEER Shoes and socks are reported to be in the “Top 5 Items Needed” by students in school (Champions for Kids, 2015).

We can’t give hope to those in need without our volunteers. Whether it’s preparing shoes to be shipped around the world or serving children one-on-one across the United States, each of our volunteers plays a special role here at Samaritan’s Feet.

Samaritan’s Feet offers volunteer opportunities for everyone, because everyone can serve! Whether you’re a family of four, an affiliate office of a large corporation, or a church small group, we have somewhere for you to serve. Your efforts will help us serve and give hope to millions of people.

Volunteer opportunities include serving at a shoe distribution, sorting and processing shoes at the international headquarters, or even serving right at home through Hope Notes or other kits!

LEARN MORE AT SAMARITANSFEET.ORG/VOLUNTEER

GET INVOLVED

SPONSOR Shoe Distributions are the heart of Samaritan’s Feet—it’s where hope and a new pair of shoes is given to those in need. And it wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of our sponsors!

Shoe Distribution methods can look different, all depending on the community in which we’re serving and the preferences of the sponsors, but the end result is the same: giving shoes and a message of hope to those in need.

LEARN ABOUT OUR SHOE DISTRIBUTION METHODS: Shoe Distributions: Shoe Distributions are the overarching initiative of Samaritan’s Feet in the United States and there are a few ways we can host them: National Day of Service, Shoes of Hope, Back to School, One City, or Seniors.

Shoe Lockers: Kept on-site at a school, a Shoe Locker is a supply of athletic shoes which are immediately available when a student has improperly fitting or worn shoes. Supporters can adopt a school and make sure that students always have the chance to be a kid.

International: Working strategically with international partners, we deliver thousands of shoes to children outside of the United States. Due to lack of proper footwear, children around the world are suffering from foot-borne diseases transmitted through contaminated soil.

LEARN MORE AT SAMARITANSFEET.ORG/SPONSOR

GET INVOLVED

MISSIONS There are 734 million people living in poverty who can’t afford education and basic articles of clothing like shoes (World Bank, 2015).

Join us on an international or domestic mission trip, where you’ll give hope and a new pair of shoes to those in need. We take care of all the details and partner with some of the most amazing organizations around the world so that together, we can make a lasting impact.

You can expect a life-changing experience on a Samaritan’s Feet mission trip. We will handle all of the logistical detail and make the process super easy for you! We offer mission trips around the world, so when choosing where to go, think about the culture, people, and distance. No matter where you decide to serve, we know that you will meet some incredible people and be immersed in their wonderful cultures.

LEARN MORE AT SAMARITANSFEET.ORG/MISSIONTRIPS

GET INVOLVED

SHOE DRIVES Shoe drives are a great, easy way to help Samaritan’s Feet provide those in need with new shoes in order to propel them into a better life. Whether you are doing a physical drive and collecting gently-used or new shoes or doing a virtual shoe drive, this is an easy, convenient way to help those in need.

The benefits of hosting a shoe drive with Samaritan’s Feet extend far beyond your doorstep, because you’ll also help the environment! By hosting a shoe drive, you help create a sustainable program to recycle athletic shoes which will go to those in need, go to secondhand markets so people can access quality footwear at affordable prices, be recycled or converted into new energy sources, or provide financial gifts to Samaritan’s Feet.

LEARN MORE AT SAMARITANSFEET.ORG/SHOEDRIVES

SPECIAL PROGRAM

SPORTS Columbia University reports that since May 2020, the number of Americans in poverty has increased by 8 million.

Samaritan’s Feet Sports is a platform for athletes, coaches, and teams to engage with their team and community while making a difference in the lives of those in need.

Whether it’s a team serving at a distribution, a coach going barefoot during a game, or a professional athlete taking their shoes off at the end of a match, every effort helps the organization.

When you join in with Samaritan’s Feet Sports, you’ll give back to those in need, lead your team off the court/field in a positive way, and engage fans and community members in a new way. We have all the tools to help you throughout your campaign, whether it’s fundraising or promoting, we’re here to help.

LEARN MORE AT SAMARITANSFEET.ORG/SPORTS

SPECIAL PROGRAM

SENIORS

Samaritan’s Feet Seniors aims to address the needs of our aging population. Lack of proper footwear can have a negative impact on a senior’s health and well-being, the ability to live independently, community involvement, and economic stability.

Samaritan’s Feet has established Samaritan’s Feet Seniors to better address the needs of our aging population by providing anti-slip, lightweight shoes to improve foot health and mobility, while also providing them with dignity and hope.

LEARN MORE AT SAMARITANSFEET.ORG/SENIORS

NOW IS YOUR CHANCE. WWW.SAMARITANSFEET.ORG