• Several large cardboard boxes, such as appliance boxes
• Large roll of plain paper
• Permanent markers
• Clear packing tape
• Tempera paint and a cookie sheet with edges
• Two chairs
• A dishpan of soapy water, and towels

• Check the website of the organization Sharing and Caring Hands to learn about their mission and how to organize a collection of socks to donate.
• Roll out the paper. Hold it down with a chair on one end. At the other end, hold it down with a dishpan of soapy water and place towels nearby.
• At the "chair" end of the paper, set the cookie sheet. Pour paint into it.

Participants will use paint-covered bare feet to decorate paper. Then, use the paper to wrap boxes for collecting socks to send to Sharing and Caring hands.

Background

Sharing and Caring Hands is a ministry started to help the poor no matter where they come from and no matter what their background. The people who receive aid are given socks, food, meals, or love, just because they need it. Ninety-three percent of donations received go to the poor.

Tell the children about Sharing and Caring Hands, in these words or your own:

Sharing and Caring Hands is a ministry that was started to serve those in need. Caring for the feet of the poor is an important part of Sharing and Caring Hands. Most of the transportation for the poor is through walking, yet some poor people do not have clean socks to protect their feet or shoes that fit them. Love is not just for those with six pair of shoes. Both Mary Jo Copeland of Sharing and Caring Hands and Dorothea Dix, who we learned about today, believed in caring for those in need.

Gather the children at the "chair" end of the paper. Invite them, one at a time, to remove their shoes and socks. While holding an adult hand they will stand in the paint (this may be slippery depending on the surface of the pan) and walk across the paper. At the end of the paper the participant steps into the soapy water and washes their feet. Still holding an adult hand, they step on the towel to dry their feet. Shoes and socks are replaced when feet are dry.

Let the painted footprints dry. Then, use the paper and clear packaging tape to wrap the large cartons. Write "Socks for Tired Feet - a Donation to Sharing and Caring Hands" with permanent marker on the boxes.

Place the boxes around the congregation or, with permission, at local department stores. Collect socks and mail to Sharing & Caring Hands, 525 North 7th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55405.

If a child is unable to stand or walk, help them make a painted footprint to place on the box. Take off shoe and sock. Paint the bottom of the foot with paint. Bring the paper to the foot. Wash the foot with a cloth and dry. Replace shoe and sock.