Pikeville, Tenn. – This week, Tennessee First Lady Maria Lee distributed 1,915 total pairs of shoes to students in Bledsoe County in partnership with Samaritan’s Feet International.
The First Lady’s initiative, Tennessee Serves, and nonprofit, Samaritan’s Feet International, hosted distribution events at schools across Pikeville to provide a brand-new pair of shoes and socks to every student in the Bledsoe County School district.
“It was a gift to spend time in Bledsoe County this week as we served this remarkable community with the help of so many volunteers,” said First Lady Maria Lee. “It is our prayer that these shoes would bless students and their families and ultimately provide a message of hope for each child who wears them.”
On Wednesday, April 9th, First Lady Maria Lee helped kick off the distribution through a pep rally where she and Samaritan’s Feet CEO, Manny Ohonme, spoke to and encouraged students from Bledsoe Middle School and Bledsoe High School. Following the pep rally, all students from the respective schools received new shoes.
On Thursday, April 10th, First Lady Maria Lee joined students at Pikeville Elementary School, Cecil B. Rigsby Elementary, and Mary V. Wheeler Elementary to provide encouragement and distribute brand new shoes to every student.
“We are extremely honored to partner with First Lady Maria Lee again to serve every student in Bledsoe County with a new pair of shoes,” said Manny Ohonme, president and CEO of Samaritan’s Feet International. “These events are pivotal, aimed at promoting health and education outcomes through the gift of shoes for underserved populations, alongside Tennessee Serves to impact families throughout the county, while inspiring hope in each student there.”
The First Lady was joined by the Tennessee Serves team and a group of volunteers including parents, teachers, state employees, and various community members to assist students in selecting and trying on their new shoes while also engaging with and encouraging each student.
The First Lady’s support of Bledsoe County will continue past this service project thanks to additional shoe donations from Tennessee Serves. The shoes remaining after this week’s distribution will remain at each Bledsoe County School in their hope lockers for future students in need.
“As Director of Schools, I am truly grateful for the generosity shown by First Lady Maria Lee, Samaritan’s Feet, and all the community volunteers who made this day possible for our students,” said Selina Sparkman, Director of Schools. “By providing students with the gift of socks and shoes, they have demonstrated an extraordinary act of compassion and love. The support will have a lasting impact on our students, and we are deeply appreciative. On behalf of Bledsoe County Schools, we extend our heartfelt thanks for this incredible act of kindness.”
This is Tennessee Serves’ second partnership with Samaritan’s Feet. In September 2021, First Lady Maria Lee and Governor Bill Lee held a distribution event in Perry County, where 923 students received a brand-new pair of socks and shoes.
Samaritan’s Feet serves and inspires hope by providing shoes to those in need around the world. Since its founding in 2003, Samaritan’s Feet and its partners have served over 10.5 million people across 111 countries and over 625 United States cities.
The partnership and volunteer events are a part of First Lady Lee’s Tennessee Serves initiative which aims to transform the state through service with a special emphasis on meeting the needs of Tennessee’s distressed counties, like Bledsoe County. Find more about the First Lady’s work through Tennessee Serves here.
