It is a simple concept. It does not cost money. The giver(volunteer) and receiver(guest) benefits and there is this understanding of equity, respect and above all, the general knowledge that this service is a viable NB way of determining a person’s skin integrity. If there are medical concerns the guest may be referred for further medical attention.
Some of the volunteers are RNs and some are veteran volunteers who have been providing this service for more than a decade. The photos demonstrate that there are approximately 7 places set up for hot sudsy betadine soaks. After a foot washing, the volunteer(with latex gloves) rubs down the feet and applies oil. Every Wednesday evening from 7-9pm, as many as 40 people will sit and wait their turn.
There’s a rather special atmosphere.
It’s an out of the box experience. It’s not unlike the film ” One Flew Out of the Cuckoo’s Nest”, in that every person has such dignity, and such good stories, and yet…they go unnoticed on the street…I don’t know…
This particular evening a volunteer brought her 3 sons to help out filling the tubs with hot water. They also brought home baked cookies to serve.
I have introduced Holt Renfrew state of the arts SHOES. One pair of shoes cost approximately 1400 dollars.
Jean Vanier would chuckle and then say something apt ..like “I’ll take that pair of shoes, but you must pay for $140,000,000,000 dinners for the homeless.”
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