Gospel Mission 'Hearts to Soles' event warms bellies and toes

Nov. 23—After two years of social distancing and to-go boxes, Medford Gospel Mission's restaurant-style Thanksgiving meals Wednesday returned to its traditional format.

Hundreds of hungry bellies were filled at tables as part of the Mission's annual "Hearts to Soles" event, which — as part of a more than decadelong partnership with a local foot doctor — combines the traditional holiday meal with free foot care and a sock and shoe giveaway.

According to Jason Bull, Medford Gospel Mission executive director, the shoe event since 2011 has become a tradition that the people they serve look forward to — and helps his faith-based organization find a way to make the holiday meal something unique.

"We feed people every day, so how do we make that special?" Bull said.

Wednesday's event was the first Thanksgiving meal since 2019 in which people could enjoy the Mission's renovated dining room.

If walls painted a stylish gray hue, bright neon signs and a gleaming white tile espresso bar go far beyond the run-of-the-mill soup kitchen, that's by design, according to Bull.

"We want people to feel cared for," Bull said.

They made enough food to serve at least 300 people. According to kitchen manager Barbara Ratkovich, in preparation for Wednesday's big meal, the mission prepared more than 100 pounds of roasted turkey, 400 pans of mashed potatoes, 400 pans of stuffing and a whopping 4 gallons of gravy, alongside dozens of donated pies.

Medford podiatrist Dr. Richard Owens gave free foot checkups and helped fit people for new Red Wing boots at the event, as he's done since 2011.

For the shoe event, the Mission already had gathered more than 500 pairs of socks — enough to give each person two pairs — from such church congregations as Mtn. Church, as well individuals who donated socks bought at Costco.

Owens said the doctor who trained him in Pittsburgh founded the national nonprofit Our Hearts to Your Soles, and the volunteer work inspired him.

"He encouraged us to do this wherever we landed," Owens said.

He found that "even in little, old Medford" there was a need for someone to look after the feet of homeless people.

"It's such a tough, tough problem, and I certainly don't have all the answers for it," Owens said. "I think we should all do our part to help."

Staff with Spectrum Orthotics of Medford helped with braces and orthotics inserts while watching for diabetes-related foot problems.

The national charity partners with shoe companies, so Owens had more than 100 pairs of Red Wing boots, plus a couple hundred more shoe pairs from prior years and others in storage to give away.

Those whose size was out of stock received Black Bird gift cards so they could get a pair of boots that fit.

Heading into winter, the foot checkups and new boots are especially important for people living outside. Clean, dry socks are important for keeping feet healthy, and cold temperatures put people at risk of frostbite.

"There's lots of issues with feet when you live in a tent," Owens said.

Reach web editor Nick Morgan at 541-776-4471 or nmorgan@rosebudmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MTwebeditor.