JEANNA DUERSCHERL The Roanoke Times

Corinna English (at left) and Peggy Tompkins soak their feet while they wait to have their nails trimmed and their feet cleaned.

JEANNA DUERSCHERL The Roanoke Times

Juanita Fox, a retired nurse, talks to Corinna English, 91, while working on her feet.

Isa Thompson rubs lotion on the bare feet of Theresa Dishner, who is so relaxed, she almost falls asleep in the reclining chair.

Nearby, two ladies chat while they soak their feet in tubs of warm water and antibacterial soap. In a few minutes, they will get their toenails clipped, their cuticles nipped and their soles massaged.

This isn't just any day spa. This is the basement of a Southeast Roanoke church. The pedicures and massages provided here aren't just for pampering. Once a month, Belmont Baptist Church offers its FootPrints program, a few hours of foot treatment aimed at people who need assistance taking care of their feet properly. Even though the program is reminiscent of the ancient church rite of foot-washing still observed in many denominations, FootPrints' primary mission is providing health care.

FootPrints is open to anyone, although the regular clientele includes mostly elderly people who have difficulty clipping their nails and diabetics who need to be alert to problems with their feet.

"They check my feet, rub them with lotion and lecture me a little bit," said Dishner, who has diabetes and suffers from poor circulation and sensitivity in her toes, a problem called neuropathy.

Dishner, 49, comes to Belmont each month to have one of the nurses check her feet for scabs, cuts or ingrown toenails that she might not feel. An untreated sore or ulcer could lead to major complications, such as infection or even amputation.

"They have a wealth of information about places to go if I need to," Dishner said. "I trust everything they say."

An unknown need

FootPrints is operated by the church's Health Management Center, which also offers monthly blood-pressure checks.

The foot-care program began about 10 years ago under the Rev. Carol McCann, Belmont's pastor at the time who also happened to be a nurse. She saw the need after an elderly church member hurt herself during the simple act of trimming her toenails. The woman's foot slipped off the edge of a coffee table where she had propped herself, sending her sprawling. She fell across the table and injured her shoulder.

The program is overseen by Belmont member Gerri McDaniel, who has been the parish nurse coordinator for the Roanoke Valley Baptist Association for 12 years.

McDaniel had previously worked with another foot-care program that assisted inner-city residents and the homeless. Many of the people she served then didn't even own a pair of nail clippers.

"People don't realize there's a need out there," McDaniel said.

McDaniel recalled a man who lived across town who heard about FootPrints while riding a Valley Metro bus. He suffered from diabetes and vision problems, and he had not properly taken care of his feet for sometime, which became apparent when he arrived at Belmont.

"His toenails were that long," McDaniel said, spreading her fingers about two inches apart. "He had to wear shoes that were too large, because he was too embarrassed to ask his family to clip his nails."

Now, the man returns every six months for foot care.

"No one needs to be embarrassed about their feet," McDaniel said.

Program relies on nurses

The program relies on the volunteer efforts of church members and health-care professionals. At Belmont, those are often the same person. Not only is McDaniel a church member, but Juanita Fox, the wife of Belmont co-pastor John Fox, is a retired nurse.

Thompson, another retired nurse who volunteers for FootPrints, has experience working with diabetics. If she spots potential problems, she instructs the patient to see the doctor immediately.

FootPrints is usually held the third or fourth Wednesday of each month. The schedule varies and the program has become so popular, the church asks that people call ahead to make an appointment.

The program is geared to assist people in the neighborhood, but you do not have to be a member to receive foot care. Even if you don't have an appointment, "We don't turn people away," McDaniel said.

You don't have to be elderly or suffer health problems, either. Roanoke County friends Joann Walthall and Carol Winners come to FootPrints each month to support the church and to relax.

"I'm getting too old to bend over," said Walthall, 78. "Here they pamper you, rub down your feet and listen for your pulse in your ankles. Then they rub you down with lotion. Isn't that wonderful?"

Practicing what Jesus preached

The program is nondenominational, but the Christian overtones are hard to miss.

Foot-washing services have been a rite for many Christian churches for hundreds of years and trace their roots back to the Gospel of John, where Jesus, in an act of humility and subservience, washed the feet of his disciples just before the Last Supper.

His message was clear: Do unto others as I have done unto you.

"It was an example to his disciples to be humble and serve others," said the Rev. David Burgess, one of Belmont's co-pastors. "In the Old Testament days, washing the feet was assigned to the lowest member of the household. The guest would arrive or the master would come in from the fields and the servant would wash the dirt and dust from his feet."

By washing his disciples' feet, Jesus lowered himself to the rank of servant. In John 13:13-14, he told them:

"You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and you are right, because that's what I am.

"And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other's feet."

Foot-washing services are still popular within some Christian denominations, especially certain Baptist groups, although Belmont Baptist does not practice the rite.

Unless, of course, you count FootPrints.

"This is a service of love," McDaniel said.