This Good Friday saw the return of Doctors Without Walls’ Annual Foot Washing Event, which had been canceled since 2020 due to the pandemic. Partnering with Veterans Affairs and WillBridge, dozens of volunteers from community organizations and local churches gathered at the Veterans’ Memorial Building on Cabrillo Boulevard to wash the feet of those facing instability in Santa Barbara. Visitors also received a hot meal, access to medical and social services, and a free pair of new socks and shoes.
In Christian traditions, washing the feet of others is a hallmark of Holy Week and is a practice of humility. Typically done on Holy Thursday, the tradition derives from Jesus washing the feet of his 12 apostles before the last supper and his crucifixion. Pope Leo washed the feet of 12 priests in this year’s ritual, breaking from Pope Francis’s choice to wash the feet of people who were incarcerated or not of the Chirstian faith.
“Doctors Without Walls believes not only in clinical, but also non-clinical support,” said Executive Director Maggie Sanchez. The organization focuses on “providing for the whole person.”…