The rite of foot washing is rooted in scripture and has been a hospitality custom in many civilizations. Foot washing is still relevant and necessary to some today, even right here in Louisville.
After living on the streets for over 20 years, a homeless person named James, a veteran, was in the VA hospital in the winter of 2013. He ate poorly, drank too much and never went to the doctor. The reason for James' emergency trip to the hospital, though, was his feet. Frost bite, alcoholism and diabetes had resulted in blackened and infected feet, and James ended up losing eight toes and having to learn to walk all over again during a long hospital stay. With help, he was able to learn to live without his toes, to find an apartment and to gain much of his life again.
The Coalition of the Homeless is using the example and James and others to provide over 80 community services including feet washing, health screenings, housing applications, access to IDs, clothing, food, and job training. This will all be a part of the Project Homeless Connect/VA Stand Down, a one day community outreach project. This year's event will take place on October 7 from 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m at The Salvation Army on Brook Street. The Coalition for the Homeless says entry doors will close at 1:00 p.m.
Along with the aforementioned services, every homeless person in Louisville is invited to soak their feet, have them examined by a local nurse, and get a new pair of socks from members of the Louisville Metro Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, and others, so that they can leave with healthy, clean feet.
Last year 450 persons used the services that were provided at this event.
Photo courtesy of The Coalition for the Homeless's Facebook page.