Joseph CascianiGeropsychologist, Consultant, Public Speaking, Freelance · Podcast Host of the Living to 100 Club | Clinical Strategies for Senior Residential Settings & Lifestyle Directors | Geropsychologist | Keynote Speaker

Samaritan's Feet: An Organization with the Goal of Zero Shoeless Seniors with Deborah Cox-Roush

19 Jun 2024 · 1 min

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In this segment, a representative from Samaritan's Feet explains the organization’s senior shoe‑distribution initiative, known as the “Hope Tote.” The tote is an orange cloth bag that contains a brand‑new pair of shoes, a new pair of socks, a hygiene kit, and insoles that can be used with the seniors’ existing footwear. It also includes printed information on fall‑prevention and a handwritten “message of hope” card contributed by volunteers worldwide. The speaker emphasizes that the program relies on partner organizations to reach seniors. An anecdote illustrates the emotional impact of the hope note: a senior called in December, saying a difficult day was brightened because the note was displayed on her refrigerator, underscoring the program’s goal of not only providing physical items but also emotional encouragement.

Chapters

We depend on partners. I will tell you that all the— when we give a— do a distribution for shoes, not only do they get shoes, that we have what we call a Hope Tote, and it's an orange cloth bag that includes a brand new pair of shoes, a brand new pair of socks, hygiene kit. When we have them, seniors get insoles that can help with their other shoes. They get information on fall prevention, and they also get what we call a message of hope. And it's a hand— a card that's written by people from all over the world, and it's just a message of encouragement. And I used to think, well, that's probably incidental. But in December, I got a call from a senior that said, you know, I was really having a bad day, Debbie, and my hope note was on my refrigerator, and it changed my day.