When Amy speaks, she does so barefoot to put awareness on the Samaritan’s Feet mission.
Amy talks to students at a middle school wrestling tournament.
Ashland Coach Bill Bradley was barefoot on his sideline.
Boyd County cheerleaders joined in the barefoot fun.
Boyd County Coach Pete Fraley went barefoot on the sidelines.
ASHLAND, Ky. -The Amy For Africa mission and its supporters have more than tripled the first deadline goal for the Samaritan’s Feet shoe campaign.
In the first 44 days of the campaign, the fundraising is closing in on $36,000 of the $52,000 needed. The organization had to raise $10,000 by Jan. 31.
“We are so thankful to the many, many, many who have already supported us,” said Mark Maynard, co-founder and AFA president. “Even knowing that was a huge total to raise, we had faith in our God. He has been so faithful. Sometimes you have to only sit back and marvel at where it’s coming next.”
Co-founder and marathon runner Amy Compston was able to share on nine consecutive days including at churches, schools and civic organizations. All have partnered with AFA on the shoe campaign.
Samaritan’s Feet partnered with AFA in November to give the organization 26,000 pair of shoes for children in Moyo, Uganda. While the shoes are free, it costs $2 per pair for shipping – thus the $52,000 necessary.
“People thought we were being overly ambitious I think when we started this back in December,” Compston said. “But we are again amazed at how God has provided. It’s almost something every day that happens. We know God is in this and we pray that everybody who gave anything will be blessed. We know they will.”
Here are some highlights from January:
-Girls high school basketball coaches Bill Bradley of Ashland and Pete Fraley of Boyd County, along with their staffs, coached barefoot in a big rival game on Jan. 24. A huge crowd turned out and more than $2,600 was raised.
-Third-graders at Fairview Elementary in Missy Murray’s class collected more than $300 selling bubblegum.
-Students at Star Elementary in Carter County gave the AFA mission more than $150 for shoes.
-One anonymous individual gave $5,000, putting 2,500 shoes on children with the gift.
-Three civic clubs – Ashland Kiwanis, Ashland Rotary and East Greenup Kiwanis – combined to give $920.
“We truly stand amazed at how God has provided abundantly more than we could have ever imagined,” Maynard said. “We can’t wait to see how He will be giving us the rest of the money needed.”