The donation closet at SEARCH Homeless Services will be a little fuller after today. That's because nearly 6,000 pairs of socks have been donated.
“Socks are a tremendous need,” says SEARCH Development Director Sondee Hatcher.
Behind all the bags of foot-fitted fibers is Anne Strong.
“This is my calling. God wants me to put some toasty warm toes on the street,” Strong said.
For years she had hosted a Christmas luncheon for friends. Then a decade ago she turned to her husband with an idea.
“What do you think if I ask them, 'instead of bringing me a hostess gift, to bring me some socks for the homeless people?' And he said ‘I don’t have to think about it. I think it’s wonderful,’” Strong said.
She expected about 20 pairs, but as word got around to her church, friends, and family, she collected about 900 pairs.
That was the start of an annual tradition. However, in 2012, the effort almost came to an end.
“When my husband passed away, and my heart went right with him and I didn’t collect socks, but I still, people just kept bringing me socks,” Strong said.
Now, with the help of Lifepath Church and its youth pastor, Rich Reaves, word has spread and thousands more people will receive socks.
“We have a mobile outreach team that goes around the city every day to connect with people who are living on the streets and they have in their van, food and water and clothing items including socks that they will share," Hatcher said. "Then we are also part of a larger collaboration throughout the city and we will also share some of those with some of our partners.”
“If everybody does a little something, our homeless friends won’t be cold,” Strong said.
Though Strong only does her collecting once a year, SEARCH is always in need of donated goods and clothing.
A year-round need is new socks and underwear while right now they are also looking for sleeping bags and blankets due to the recent flooding.