Submitted By David A. Porter M.D. PhD.
12.01.2009

A few days before Thanksgiving, I had the awesome opportunity to volunteer at a homeless shelter with Dr. Smerek and others from Methodist Sports Medicine / The Orthopedic Specialists.  This was a great time for all of us.  We knew there was a need for homeless men to get adequate foot gear for the upcoming winter and wanted to do what we could to help through the Our Hearts to Your Soles organization.  We had the privilege to serve 110 men at Wheeler Mission in Indianapolis.
 
Dr. Smerek and I did a brief screening exam on all 110 men. We wanted to make sure they did not have any open skin sores and that they had good blood flow to their feet.  We also wanted to help them understand how to take care of their feet, toenails and calluses. 
 
I was impressed with the men’s gratitude for our care and concern for them. They were fun to meet, and I think we helped them. They seemed surprised to get to see orthopedic foot and ankle specialists at this visit.
 
Having Antoine Bethea there from the Indianapolis Colts was such fun for the guys to see and meet. We were so grateful for his presence and contribution of time.
 
It also was a pleasure for Dr. Smerek and me to serve with many of our staff as volunteers, including Stacey Corley, Cindy Gramman, Patti Hunker, Karisa Maxey, Jennifer McDaniel, Brenda Riddle, Maryanne Rudin, Angela Schuck, Mary Schull, Lisa Shetterley, Gabriel Shetterley and Dick Rea. 

We hope to do this again next year and expect we can do even more.