A First Look at Hope in Action: Volunteer Vicki Sewell Reflects on Serving in Wilmington

For first time volunteer Vicki Sewell, serving with Samaritan’s Feet in Wilmington, North Carolina was more than a few hours of community service. It was an eye opening experience filled with joy, compassion, and small moments she says she will never forget.

During this shoe distribution, funded by the Tepper Foundation, with support from the Carolina Panthers, Samaritan’s Feet served two elementary schools in Wilmington and distributed more than 850 pairs of shoes. For Vicki, who volunteered alongside her daughter Victoria, it was their very first time experiencing a Samaritan’s Feet shoe distribution up close. Vicki arrived not fully knowing what to expect. What she found was a room filled with energy, care, and purpose.

“From the check in… to going into the gymnasium, everything was set up so perfectly, and it ran like clockwork,” Vicki shared. “The music was very upbeat, and when you walked in, it was just a happy place.” The day was full of music, encouragement, and excitement, but what moved Vicki most was watching the human connection happening all around her.

One of the most powerful moments for her was seeing local high school football players and cheerleaders serve the younger students one on one. She watched as older students sat across from children, talked with them, listened to them, and helped them receive their new shoes.

“I just panned the room over and over again,” she said. “These big kids were having a great time with these little kids.” What struck her most was the mutual impact of the moment. “This was a win win for everybody. Those big kids got something that day, too, that was just as important as what those little kids got.”

That perspective captures something special about a Samaritan’s Feet distribution. Yes, children receive properly fitting shoes and socks. But volunteers also leave changed. They see need differently. They experience service in a tangible way. And often, they walk away with their own hearts full.

Vicki and her daughter served behind the tables, helping pass out and refill shoes and socks. Even from that role, she quickly saw how every volunteer in the room mattered. She noticed one little girl who entered the distribution carrying what Vicki described as “a hard wall.” Despite the upbeat environment, the child showed no emotion. When asked what color shoes she wanted, she asked for pink. At first, there were none left in her size. Then, unexpectedly, a pair came back.

“My daughter went over with the pink shoes, and she cracked a smile,” Vicki said. “It was a small one, but she did crack a smile, and that just made my day.” Then she added a line that lingers long after hearing it: “That kid is never, ever going to forget this.”

Another moment stayed with her just as deeply. A child had tried on several pairs of shoes, but none seemed to work. When a Samaritan’s Feet team member stepped in, she realized the child did not simply need another size. She needed patience. She needed someone to slow down and recognize what was going on beneath the surface.

“She just wanted some extra time. She just wanted to be heard,” Vicki said. “I thought that was just profound.”

That insight helped shape Vicki’s understanding of the day. A shoe distribution is never only about footwear. It is also about dignity, attention, and making sure each child feels seen.

Her comments are a strong reminder of something Samaritan’s Feet sees every day. Need exists in our own communities. In Wilmington, Vicki saw firsthand that children right here at home need properly fitting shoes, encouragement, and care. She especially appreciated that the distributions were designed so the whole class participated, helping ensure no child felt singled out. “I love the way you all did that,” she said.

By the end of the day, Vicki was not just impressed by the logistics or the number of children served. She was moved by the good she witnessed in a world that can often feel heavy.

“I would say serve 100%, go and do it,” she said when asked what she would tell others considering volunteering. “I got so much more out of serving those few hours that morning than probably those kids did. It was eye opening, it was heartwarming.”

She went on to describe volunteering as an antidote to the negativity people see every day. “You go and serve and you see the good and you see how little things can make such a big difference,” she said.

That is the invitation at the heart of Vicki’s story. Come see it for yourself. Come serve. Come witness what happens when a community shows up for children with love, dignity, and practical support. You may arrive thinking you are there to give something away. Like Vicki, you may leave realizing you received something too.

If you have ever thought about volunteering with Samaritan’s Feet, let Vicki’s words be your encouragement: “Serve 100%, go and do it.”