Washing feet teaches students lessons
Homeless get care, attention
Washing the feet of some of Nashville's homeless provided Jennifer Barut and her nursing students a lesson in service and a good dose of humility.
"It is true what they say about service — that you get more than you could ever give," said Barut, who teaches nursing at Motlow State Community College near Lynchburg, Tenn. She and her students participated in Project Homeless Connect earlier this month at Municipal Auditorium.
"The people served by the foot clinic that day thought that we were the ones giving to them. I wish I could convey to them how mistaken was that assumption, because they were giving to us."
The feet of each homeless person served were washed, dried and, if necessary, doctored. The students gave each person two pair of socks.
Barut, of Nashville, said one young man giggled while she scrubbed his feet, and another told her he loves playing chess and wants to go back to school but fears his long "rap" sheet might get in the way.
One woman shed tears of gratitude while getting her feet washed, Barut said, and called the volunteer workers "blessings from God."
To student Lora Loftis of Rutherford County's Lascassas community, the caregivers were the real recipients, experiencing "five full hours of blessings."
"At first I was a little hesitant, but after Robb explained why we were there, I was OK," said Jennifer Jones of Rock Island, Tenn. Robb is Robertson Nash, medical coordinator at the Campus for Human Development, and a clinical instructor at Vanderbilt University's School of Nursing.
"He said that, yes, foot care was greatly needed, but that was not our main purpose for the day. He told us the homeless are invisible to others, and that most of the time, they are ignored and considered bothersome," Jones said. "Washing their feet was a chance to show them that they do have a worth and to give them the undivided attention they may have never experienced."
Student Beth Baker of Winchester, Tenn., said participants also could get shoes, vision and HIV tests, dental exams and other care.
Mona Hunter of Murfreesboro helped with participants' initial assessments, which included determining their most pressing needs and asking questions about their living situations, medical information and sources of income.
"I realized how fortunate I am and how my problems are minute compared to not having food or shelter," she said. "It was a very humbling experience, and I walked away thanking God for my life and praying for those not as fortunate."
Jenia Nicoll of Murfreesboro said the first person she tended, a young man, looked like her brother.
"He slipped off his shoes and dirty socks, avoiding eye contact," she said. "He then rolled up his pants, to reveal another pair of pants. He told me he wore all the clothes he had because it was so cold outside. He explained that a police officer had taken him to shelter after finding him asleep on a grate.
"He was young and his eyes were the same blue as my brother's, and he had the same sad smile, and it left me shaken to the core," Nicoll said.
"It is true what they say about service — that you get more than you could ever give," said Barut, who teaches nursing at Motlow State Community College near Lynchburg, Tenn. She and her students participated in Project Homeless Connect earlier this month at Municipal Auditorium.
The feet of each homeless person served were washed, dried and, if necessary, doctored. The students gave each person two pair of socks.
Barut, of Nashville, said one young man giggled while she scrubbed his feet, and another told her he loves playing chess and wants to go back to school but fears his long "rap" sheet might get in the way.
One woman shed tears of gratitude while getting her feet washed, Barut said, and called the volunteer workers "blessings from God."
To student Lora Loftis of Rutherford County's Lascassas community, the caregivers were the real recipients, experiencing "five full hours of blessings."
Some were hesitant
Several students said they had misgivings about foot washing, but those feelings quickly disappeared."At first I was a little hesitant, but after Robb explained why we were there, I was OK," said Jennifer Jones of Rock Island, Tenn. Robb is Robertson Nash, medical coordinator at the Campus for Human Development, and a clinical instructor at Vanderbilt University's School of Nursing.
"He said that, yes, foot care was greatly needed, but that was not our main purpose for the day. He told us the homeless are invisible to others, and that most of the time, they are ignored and considered bothersome," Jones said. "Washing their feet was a chance to show them that they do have a worth and to give them the undivided attention they may have never experienced."
Student Beth Baker of Winchester, Tenn., said participants also could get shoes, vision and HIV tests, dental exams and other care.
Mona Hunter of Murfreesboro helped with participants' initial assessments, which included determining their most pressing needs and asking questions about their living situations, medical information and sources of income.
Life stories show need
"I heard life stories that made me aware of the great need for volunteer services — people helping people," Hunter said."I realized how fortunate I am and how my problems are minute compared to not having food or shelter," she said. "It was a very humbling experience, and I walked away thanking God for my life and praying for those not as fortunate."
Jenia Nicoll of Murfreesboro said the first person she tended, a young man, looked like her brother.
"He slipped off his shoes and dirty socks, avoiding eye contact," she said. "He then rolled up his pants, to reveal another pair of pants. He told me he wore all the clothes he had because it was so cold outside. He explained that a police officer had taken him to shelter after finding him asleep on a grate.
"He was young and his eyes were the same blue as my brother's, and he had the same sad smile, and it left me shaken to the core," Nicoll said.
