Bolling, Pentagon Airmen give time to give shoes

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Dan DeCook
  • 11th Wing Public Affairs
Bolling AFB, D.C. --  A child cannot control the shoes on their feet or the clothes on their backs. They cannot buy themselves Christmas presents or cook meals. Fortunately, there are people in this world who understand that children sometimes need help that their parents are unable to provide.

Eighteen Airmen from Bolling AFB and the Pentagon volunteered to participate in the 7th District's 39th annual Christmas party Dec. 12 at the Lady of Perpetual Hope Church in D.C. The party was sponsored by the 7th District Police Department and run by volunteers.

Volunteers at the event gave out 220 new pairs of shoes, more than 20 bikes, toothbrushes, hats, scarves, gloves, games, footballs, puzzles and outfits to elementary school children from the 20 elementary schools in the 7th district. Children were chosen for the event by school principles and counselors.

"These are children who have been selected because they don't have the money for new shoes and some nights go hungry," said Ms. Lendia Johnson, Christmas party coordinator. "The police department couldn't be happier to hold this event and give the children a hot meal, and new shoes and socks."

As part of the event, the children and their chaperones were served lunch and treated to a show consisting of a high school choir, dance team and disc jockey. The Metropolitan Police Department escorted Santa and Mrs. Claus via helicopter.
During the event, the 220 children in attendance were given new shoes and socks by the organization Samaritan's Feet. Founded in 2003, Samaritan's Feet is an international ministry focused on bringing a life-changing message of hope to more than 300 million youth and children globally who may never own a new pair of shoes.

"This was a very heartwarming opportunity," said Airman 1st Class Nick Muller, 744th Communications Group, "I have volunteered at many events in the past and have never left an event feeling as good as I did after helping these children get shoes they so desperately needed."

Before giving each child a pair of shoes and socks, the volunteers gently washed the children's feet and shared a message of hope. It took more than five hours to get every child a new pair of shoes.
"Most of the volunteers who took a washing station never got up," said J. Rollins, Samaritan's Feet representative. "They didn't ask for a break or anything, they just served. Everyone one of them was so gentle with each child and let them feel loved and special.

"Those children are at an age where they are very impressionable and they were touched by good people with big hearts and hopefully, that will plant a few seeds that help them deal with the challenges they will face growing up in the circumstances they are in," he said.

For more information or to volunteer with Samaritan's Feet, visit www.samaritansfeet.org. 

For more volunteer information visit www.bolling.af.mil for event announcements.