100,000 SHOES. 100,000 LIVES CHANGED.
Samaritan's Feet generously donates 100,000 shoes to Operation SAVE.
Samaritan's Feet
As a young boy in Nigeria, Manny Ohonme received a pair of shoes from a missionary as a basketball contest prize. These shoes encouraged Manny to dream big and begin playing basketball, leading him to earn a basketball scholarship to attend college in the States. While in college, Manny met his wife Tracie, and after visiting Nigeria once again, the two carried a burden for how many people lacked shoes in Nigeria and all over the world.
African countries like Malawi are battling widespread jigger outbreaks – a small parasitic flea that burrows into the body through the soles of the feet and grows up to 2,000 times its original size in 10 days. Small tumor-like sores develop all over the foot, resulting in pain and difficulty walking. Often, the only treatment is to cut out the jiggers with a scalpel. Shoes help prevent disease and infection, build confidence, and provide a brighter future for each child that receives a pair of shoes.
Manny and Tracie began Samaritan's Feet in 2003 to bring shoes and a message of hope to children all over the world. Samaritan's Feet is a partner organization of Operation SAVE and donated 100,000 pairs of shoes to Operation SAVE in 2023. Our goal is to distribute these 100,00 pairs of shoes for lives to be changed and hope to be found through Jesus Christ.
As a young boy in Nigeria, Manny Ohonme received a pair of shoes from a missionary as a basketball contest prize. These shoes encouraged Manny to dream big and begin playing basketball, leading him to earn a basketball scholarship to attend college in the States. While in college, Manny met his wife Tracie, and after visiting Nigeria once again, the two carried a burden for how many people lacked shoes in Nigeria and all over the world.
African countries like Malawi are battling widespread jigger outbreaks – a small parasitic flea that burrows into the body through the soles of the feet and grows up to 2,000 times its original size in 10 days. Small tumor-like sores develop all over the foot, resulting in pain and difficulty walking. Often, the only treatment is to cut out the jiggers with a scalpel. Shoes help prevent disease and infection, build confidence, and provide a brighter future for each child that receives a pair of shoes.
Manny and Tracie began Samaritan's Feet in 2003 to bring shoes and a message of hope to children all over the world. Samaritan's Feet is a partner organization of Operation SAVE and donated 100,000 pairs of shoes to Operation SAVE in 2023. Our goal is to distribute these 100,00 pairs of shoes for lives to be changed and hope to be found through Jesus Christ.
Distribution Process
Operation SAVE shoe distributions are held in different villages and schools in Malawi as a way to provide new shoes and an opportunity to share the gospel. Just as Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, our goal through washing feet is for each child to feel seen, known, and loved. We pair each member of our US team with a translator for personal gospel conversations to happen and to help us communicate the gospel in the clearest way possible.
For many children, this day will be the first time they have their feet washed, the first time they receive a pair of shoes, and the first time they are able to have a one-on-one conversation about Jesus Christ.
Through shoe distribution, children walk away with clean and protected feet, but most importantly, they walk away having heard, and many believing, about the one who can make their hearts clean again.
Operation SAVE shoe distributions are held in different villages and schools in Malawi as a way to provide new shoes and an opportunity to share the gospel. Just as Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, our goal through washing feet is for each child to feel seen, known, and loved. We pair each member of our US team with a translator for personal gospel conversations to happen and to help us communicate the gospel in the clearest way possible.
For many children, this day will be the first time they have their feet washed, the first time they receive a pair of shoes, and the first time they are able to have a one-on-one conversation about Jesus Christ.
Through shoe distribution, children walk away with clean and protected feet, but most importantly, they walk away having heard, and many believing, about the one who can make their hearts clean again.
How You Can Help
Shipping shoes from the United States to Malawi, Africa costs approximately $30,000 USD. They are being shipped by a cargo ship in three large containers, and our Malawian team is currently finishing the construction of a building to store all of these shoes. With your help, we can change the lives of 100,000 children and give them the opportunity to hear about how much God loves them. For children with so little, this is a moment they will never forget.
Shipping shoes from the United States to Malawi, Africa costs approximately $30,000 USD. They are being shipped by a cargo ship in three large containers, and our Malawian team is currently finishing the construction of a building to store all of these shoes. With your help, we can change the lives of 100,000 children and give them the opportunity to hear about how much God loves them. For children with so little, this is a moment they will never forget.
Give