Mission Trips

What is the return policy if I decide to go on a mission trip and then cancel?
If Samaritan’s Feet cancels a trip for any reason, participants will be notified. Individuals will have the option to transfer their balance to a future Samaritan’s Feet trip within the next 12-month period of the originally scheduled trip. They can also hold the original trips price for the following year should the same trip occur but the price increase. Other than the $150 deposit, donations made towards a trip can be refunded.

If a participant or group cancels their trip 30 days or less prior to departure, all collected funds will be used for the missions, as, by that point, those funds will have been used for the trip’s expenses. Most trips cancelled more than 30 days before departure can receive a full refund minus the $150 deposit but will be at the discretion of Samaritan’s Feet Staff based upon specifics of that trip.

If an individual or group cancels their trip, the $150 deposit may be used for another trip in the same calendar year only. After the calendar year has completed, they will need to submit a new application fee.

What are safety measures Samaritan’s Feet has implemented?
Samaritans Feet International is dedicated to providing an educational, engaging, and most of all, SAFE experience for all of our volunteers. In order to accomplish this, we have implemented safety measures to ensure our goal, of safety within the team, is maintained within our power to control. This includes the following measures:

Site Verification and Local Partnerships

– Samaritan’s Feet missions’ team or the international director does a scouting trip to any new countries before sending a team.

– We utilize in-country host partners that are local to the communities and knowledgeable of situations which may make travel unsafe for our teams.

– Our hosts provide context to any cultural traditions to team members to help the team members connect with those who we are serving.

– Our hosts have knowledge of areas of the country which are safe to hold shoe distributions and when possible, they conduct site visits at all distribution locations.

Team Knowledge and Information

– Each team member is provided a contact information document including the address, phone number, and website for each hotel, nearest US embassy location, travel agent contact information, travel insurance emergency number in and outside of the U.S., all necessary contacts at the Samaritans Feet office.

– Three team meetings are conducted prior to each trip to discuss trip details including team safety and all other concerns that are relevant.

– Our team leaders are also made available to team members to discuss they trip further outside of team meetings as needed.

STEP Registration

– We Register all team members with the State Department through S.T.E.P. (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program) https://step.state.gov/ which is a free service to allow U.S. citizens and nationals traveling and living abroad to enroll their trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

– Receive important information from the Embassy about safety conditions in your destination country, helping you make informed decisions about your travel plans.

– Help the U.S. Embassy contact you in an emergency, whether natural disaster, civil unrest, or family emergency.

– Help family and friends get in touch with you in an emergency.

Travel Insurance

– We purchase trip insurance for all trip volunteers and staff that includes the following benefits:

– Emergency Accident and Sickness Medical Expense; Emergency Medical Evacuation and Repatriation of Mortal Remains

Accommodation and Food Safety

– Our team does research to locate hotels and accommodations which are in safe locations, cleanliness, and provide security for guests of hotel.

– We try to look for accommodations which have restaurants which is vital for food safety for our team members.

– Our team does research with our in-country hosts to ensure all restaurants and food provided is safe to minimize any food borne illnesses.

Samaritans Feet Training

– Samaritan’s Feet International has an exceptional group of trained and well informed Team Leaders that will be on every trip.

What is the purpose of the Samaritan’s Feet mission trips?
The purpose of the mission trip is to provide shoes and other basic necessities to children and families in need, while also sharing the message of hope and love. We offer mission trips in locations all over the world – join us!

Do I need to have previous mission trip experience to participate?
No, previous mission trip experience is not required. However, participants should be prepared for physically demanding work and cultural immersion. If you are unable to join a mission trip, we encourage you to donate to support our work.

What is the deadline to apply for a mission trip?
The application deadline is typically 60 days prior to the trip start date. However, it is recommended to apply as early as possible as spots fill up quickly. We can give exceptions to the deadline date as the trip gets closer, depending on the trip, but you must contact our team to see if this option is available.

Which denominations does Samaritan’s Feet International partner with?
Samaritans Feet International partners with all Christian affiliated denominations.

What is included in the cost for a mission trip?
Each trip covers in-country transportation, meals, accommodations, exit taxes, trip insurance, shoes, supplies, excursions, etc. Airfare will not be included in the base cost, and you will need to contact our travel partners to book this. The only additional funds needed will be for souvenirs or baggage fees for checked personal luggage (if needed), and Visas (if needed). All payments can be made directly to Samaritan’s Feet.

Can non-US citizens travel on a mission trip?
If you live outside of the USA you can travel with us, but you will need to handle all visa requirements and airfare scheduling after you have applied online through our application.

Why do you run a background check?
Our top priority is the safety of our volunteers, so we run all trip attendees through our background check screening before approving their application. Once approved we can move forward with adding you to our team list.

Will there be good service and internet when we travel?
We often travel to places with little to no cell or internet service. We often have internet access at our lodging facilities, but cannot guarantee this on any of our trips. We recommend getting a temporary international travel plan with your service provider if necessary to keep in touch with family back home. We encourage all participants to disconnect from home and fully engage with the local community if possible.

What if I have food allergies?
We cannot guarantee food allergies will be avoided while on these trips. If you have food sensitivities, please consult your doctor or physician to talk about steps to prepare for your upcoming trip.

Can I donate to a mission trip?
YES! You can donate HERE to your trip or another individual. Please put their name and the trip location in the description so we know where to apply the credit towards.