Q&A with Phil Campbell
If you’ve served at a shoe distribution in the southeast, chances are you’ve met Phil Campbell, and you haven’t forgotten him. Phil is a Regional Director of Operations for Samaritan’s Feet and ensures that our shoe distributions in the United States run smoothly and are full of smiles. Here’s a Q&A about his experiences:
How long have you worked with Samaritan’s Feet?
October 5, 2020 will be 15 years.
How many people have you facilitated serving?
On August 2, 2020, I was at my 440th event. If we average serving around 300 people at each event, then I’ve helped facilitate serving around 132,000 people. Maybe a lot more…
What do you love about working with Samaritan’s Feet?
The hugs and smiles from those we serve! And of course, the life-changing stories.
When you’re leading a shoe distribution, what is your favorite part?
SEEING the volunteers touched by serving and then hearing about their experience after the event is finished. They are so moved from the event and children, that they often don’t want to leave.
Anyone who knows you knows you have hundreds of amazing stories. Share one of those stories that means a lot to you.
One day my youngest son, he was 9, and I, were pumping gas. And I said to him, “look over there, it’s a penny. Pick that up.” And he said, “no dad, it’s tails up and that means bad luck.” And I told him again to pick that penny up. So he did and handed it to me. I showed the penny to him and said, “what does that say right here? It says ‘In God We Trust.’ And for the rest of your life, I want you to remember when you see a penny, that’s the Lord reaffirming to you in that instant that you can trust Him.”
Two years later, he was diagnosed as a diabetic. Now, my youngest son has had a fear of needles that you cannot imagine. We knew that he was going to have blood-work done, and knew he was going to flip out. So we’re on the way to the hospital and he’s crying and I keep telling him it’s going to be ok. We get checked in and they tell us to go down the hall and the room is the last door on left. We start walking down this wide hallway, with no one around. I reach for the door handle and look in the corner and I told my son, “look right there.” It was a penny.
Now fast forward five years. I’m with Samaritan’s Feet in Atlanta doing a distribution for 5,000 people at the Georgia World Congress Center. We’re in the middle of doing this large event, serving mostly people experiencing homelessness, and someone comes up to me and says, “there is a lady here that has to see you.” I walk over to this sweet little lady with her husband next to her. She gives me a hug that I’ll never forget. So we hug and cry for about five minutes. Then I tell her, “tell me how I can help you.” She reached down in her pocket and she pulls out a penny. She told me “I know you’re going to think I’m crazy, but we’ve been homeless for about six months and living on the streets. But the Lord told me if I bring this penny and find the person in charge that he would know what to do.” Talk about confirmation that you know where you’re supposed to be.
