SIOUX FALLS AND BRANDON, SOUTH DAKOTA – Three United Methodist Churches in Sioux Falls and Brandon, South Dakota blessed the feet of over 1000 children and provided them with new socks and shoes.

Celebration Church in Brandon, South Dakota; Embrace Church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and Wesley Church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota served as distribution points for Samaritan’s Feet. 

The call to service

“ We had Manny, the founder of Samaritan’s Feet come and speak at our church and that inspired us to join the effort,” said Rev. Rebecca Trefz, Celebration Church.

What Trefz didn’t know is that two other United Methodist churches nearby would also be providing volunteers, space and prayers as a distribution point.  Embrace Church also listened to Manny and decided to become a distribution center as did Wesley UMC. 

Samaritan’s Feet has a clear and straightforward mission.  They provide shoes and socks to people.  Samaritan’s Feet website states,” Nearly 300 million people go without shoes each day and millions are plagued with foot-borne illnesses that may be preventable by simple protection—shoes.“

Powerful experience

Wesley UMC in Sioux Falls distributed over 870 pairs of shoes and socks to children.  Each child also receives a blessing.  “We tell them that God loves you from the their feet to the tip of their head, to always remember that,” explained Rev. Laura Bormann, Wesley UMC. 

Wesley has an afterschool program to serve the children in the neighborhood who have no place to go.  Bormann asked for shoes for all of the children served at Welsey.  “I asked and Smaritan’s Feet Program provided 125 pair shoes for the kids that come to Wesley for the after school program," noted Bormann.

“It was a powerful experience for those who participated,” stated Rev. Trefz.