She needs to put her pride aside. You can damage your feet permanently from wearing shoes that don't fit right. Also forget your town. They sound like a bunch of A holes. The rest of the world is not like that and it's incredibly unchristian behavior for them to act like that. Be sure to point it out to them when they give you crap and if they aren't christian they are terrible regardless of their religion or lack thereof. Most religions wouldn't approve of ill treatment of the poor, and if any of them are atheist they are still jerks and don't deserve to be affiliated with atheism.

This enrages me, not because of your mom but the fact that it seems like you both have no support whatsoever. There is zero reason for you both to be struggling this much and i am so sorry. I hope you are able to get a new pair of shoes soon. If you can go to your school nurse and explain the situation. They may be able to help you and hopefully be discreet about it

I just do a dainty little squimch. Not quite a squish or a pinch just very lightly applied pressure if any. Usually men will only take the tips of my fingers and sometimes other women as well. When in doubt it's okay to only shake with fingers/finger tips. (My hands are small so usually men's hands swallow mine up. It depends on the person.)