Read what homeless people Kiwi, Christine, Darlene, Daniel, Has, Ruth and William have to say about the important of new socks.

There are 11 short interviews in all.  Here are quotes from two of them:

“I had that happen to me about three times so far, and basically the bottom of your feet rot until the point where your skin actually starts to die.”

“Even like the subtlest things, like a pair of socks can make the biggest difference in the world.”

Click Stories From The Streets to read (or listen) to all of them.

Yet according to HUD’s 20111 Point in Time Estimate of Homeless (12/2011), page 21,  there are only 410 homeless in the Norristown area.

What’s wrong with this picture??

What’s wrong is HUD truly underestimates the homeless population – in this case by a factor of almost three!!

This misrepresentation affects many things…including funding to support social services and the homeless population.

I wish I had an answer to those who ask me to support a higher number of homeless than the “official government numbers.”

After lunch they distributed 2,040 pairs of new socks to facilities in the Philadelphia area.  Great job guys – thanks so much for your help!

Ignite change.  Go Nova!

The video is about 26 minutes so you will probably not look at the entire clip, but perhaps you can try it for a few minutes.

Your comments?

Donation of new socks have been received from all across the United States including their offices in:

• St. Louis, MO
• Westerville, OH
• Indianapolis, IN
• Bloomington, MN
• Scottsdale, AZ
• Chicago, IL
• Chandler, AZ
• Dearborn, MI
• Independence, OH

Thank you so much ADP for helping make homeless toes happy toes!

Waltham, MA;  Milton, DE;  Tucson, AZ;  Deerfiled, IL;  Sammamish, WA and Brainerd, MN.

Thank you so much for helping make homeless toes happy toes!!

Three students from Villanova University were interviewed to help us during the spring semester 2013.  Two interviews were face-to-face and one was via Skype from Belgium!

What a great group of people and I am already planning all the wonderful things we can accomplish with such talent on board.  The efficiency and reach of our mission of providing new socks for the homeless will definitely expand in 2013.

And we need a new name for “interns.” 

How about “Associate Chief  Logistics Sock Person,” or “Associate Chief Organizer Sock Person?”  Although we deal with a serious issue (homelessness) we need to have fun titles.  Any suggestions?

Juliette Turturro, Tom Costello Jr, Katrina Stier with a certificate for collecting new socks for the homeless and The Joy of Sox

Crozer-Keystone Health System donates new socks for the homeless.  Juliette Turturro, one of our board members contacted Katrina Stier, PR Manager at Crozer, and made arrangements for them to conduct a sock drive.

394 pairs of new socks for the homeless were collected and will be distributed to shelters in the region.  The photo is of (l-r) Juliette, Tom Costello, Jr, Chief Sock Person, and Katrina.

Thanks so much to the staff at Crozer-Keystone and Juliette and Katrina!

This particular one shows that the box contains 120 pairs of new socks for women and that the box was packed by students from Villanova University.

Thanksgiving for the homeless – Cathedral Kitchen, Camden, New Jersey

Our Thanksgiving tradition – delivering new socks for the homeless to Cathedral Kitchen in Camden, New Jersey.

This morning we drove to Camden and delivered 610 pairs of new socks for the men, women and children who attended the holiday meal.  It was a great event for families with children as there were art activities, balloon animals and face painting.

The Kitchen anticipated that they will serve dinner to about 450 – 500 individuals this year.

A blessed and Happy Thanksgiving to all!!

The Joy of Sox provided two cases of new socks for the men and women at the clinic making homeless toes happy toes.

It was a very moving experience and I could tell by the expression on their faces that the “patients” really appreciated what the nurses did.

(the photo is from Villanova.edu and shows nurses at the clinic earlier in the year)

“HEART AND SOLE – Helping the homeless get off on the right foot.  While volunteering at a Philadelphia soup kitchen in 2007, Tom Costello, Jr learned that many of the foot-related afflictions from which homeless people suffer – swelling, blisters, skin infections, even frostbite – can be avoided by wearing new, dry socks.  But because socks generally aren’t included in charitable clothing donations, most people in need go without them.  “I know I had to be the sock guy,” he says.

So Costello founded The Joy Of Sox, which distributes donated socks to shelters across the country.  He gets the word out through social media, local sock drives, and a mascot, Joy the Sock Puppet, who accompanies Costello on speaking trips.  He even persuaded the Pennsylvania State Senate to recognize February 14 as National Socks for the Homeless Day.  It’s a small victory for more than the 14,000 homeless in Pennsylvania, but Costello isn’t daunted.  “I once ran a marathon,” he says, “and someone asked me how I did it.  I said, ‘One block at a time.’  you do it little by little.”

Plus a special thanks and a big hug to two super people:   Sarah Zobel, my favorite free lance writer who persevered to get the story placed.

And Ann Marie Casey photographer extraordinaire who took my photo.  Check out her work here.

Rev. Chris Bishop, Pastor of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Radnor, PA had these nice words to say about Tom and The Joy of Sox.

“Today I had one of those spine-tingling moments, when you see or hear something that sparks a deep recognition of another’s humanity and unexpectedly shakes your world. I met with Tom Costello Jr, the founder of The Joy of Sox, a non-profit that collects new socks for people living in the streets without homes (homeless), who will be our guest lay preacher on Sunday.

I had expected to meet a nice person with a big heart who was out to do good things for other people. Instead, the man I met told me a story of profound personal transformation that deeply shifted his experience of living, and set him on a path to help heal the world, one naked, blistered, unwashed foot at a time. Come prepared to have your spirit moved, and don’t forget to bring socks and plenty of ‘em!”

Ignite Change! Go Nova banner on the campus

Seventy three Villanova University student athletes from the women’s field hockey and men’s soccer teams participated in the University’s Day of Service by sorting, boxing and inventorying 8,299 pairs of new socks!!

And later in the afternoon student leaders delivered 2,024 pairs to several shelters in the Philadelphia area!

This was truly a wonderful event and we are grateful to Villanova University for including The Joy of Sox as one of their causes.

We are also grateful to Injinji Performance Socks and GoldToe/Gildan for their generous donation of new socks.

Joy The Sock Puppet now has her own trademark!

Joy The Sock Puppet® now has her own official trademark!!  The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issued registration number 4,174,257 on July 17, 2012.

She is pretty excited about this and will probably celebrate by getting her hair done!

She is also getting ready for her series of videos about the plight of the homeless.  They should be ready in the fall.

And maybe in September Joy will get to meet a really really famous puppet in person. Can you guess who that might be?  Think tall.  Think yellow.  Think bird.

Stay tuned for more on that!

Click on logo to learn more about donating to The Joy of Sox simply by shopping online!

This is really cool.

Imagine every time that you shop online The Joy of Sox automatically gets a percentage of you purchase as a donation.

All you have to do is click on the iGive logo on the right and sign up for the service with your browser.  Then whenever you shop for something on line at over 1,061 sites like Home Depot, 1-800-Flowers, Banana Republic, Amazon, Dell, Staples, QVC (but you need to set up the Amazon link through iGive – it’s so easy, even I was able to do it!)

Click here to see the current  list.  Even Orbitz and PETCO.

The Joy of Sox gets $5.00 when you sign up for the service and keep the iGive icon on your browser for 90 days.

Plus, we get another $5.00 after your fist purchase.

Imagine if 500 people sign up and buy something. That could equate to $5,000 signup bonus.  That’s a lot of socks and happy toes!!

Imagine if 1,275 people sign up and buy something…a $12,750 sign up bonus!!  And if everyone in New Jersey signed up we could get $88,211,550!!

Check it out…then tell your friends…tell your relatives…tell everybody!

Send them this link.

And our Facebook page will give you weekly update on how we are doing.

THANKS SO MUCH!!!

Do you have a sock drawer at home? The homeless don't. The Joy of Sox.

Our chapters, affiliates, or offices in other locations are not called chapters, affiliates, or offices; rather they are called… “Sock Drawers.”

Presently we have developing Sock Drawers in:

Arizona – Tuscon (Wayne Daley)

California _ Santa Cruz (Pat Lorenzo)

Illinois – Chicago (Gwen)

Missouri – St. Louis (Lisa Martino)

New Jersey – Princeton (Jerry Trapp )

Pennsylvania – Slippery Rock (Ciarra Karnes)

Pennsylvania – Radnor (Tom Costello Jr)

Virginia – Alexandria (Ed Albard)

And coming soon…

California – Berkeley (tba)

Massachusetts – Boston (Laura Holman)

Washington – Seattle (tba)

If you’re interested in opening a “Sock Drawer” in your area, please let us know.  We’d love to have you help spread the story about the basic, and yet unmet need, of the homeless…socks.

Click here, or on the Contact tab above and someone will get back to you shortly.  And thanks for your interest!!

Afghanistan

• Some Marine installation (location unknown)

Arizona

• Tucson – MAN Tucson

California

• Los Angeles – Delancy Street Foundation
• Santa Cruz – Santa Cruz Coalition

Maryland

• Baltimore – Back on My Feet

Massachusetts

• Boston – Back on My Feet
• Boston – Bridge Over Troubled Water
• Cambridge – Youth on Fire

Mexico

• Isla Mujeres  – Zapatos Para Los Ninos

Missouri

• St. Louis – Various Missions

New Jersey

• Camden - Cathedral Kitchen
• Camden – Anna Sample Complex
• Trenton – TASK (Trenton Area Soup Kitchen)
• Trenton – HomeFront

New York

• New York – Covenant House
• New York – St. Francis Assisi
• New York – The Space at Tompkins

Oregon

• Albany – Helping Hands

Pennsylvania

• Chester – Chester Eastside Ministries
• Conshohocken – Cradles to Crayons
• Norristown – Interfaith Hospitality Network
• Norristown – Coordinated Homeless Outreach Center
• Philadelphia – Arch Street Methodist Church
• Philadelphia – Bethesda Project
• Philadelphia – Covenant House
• Philadelphia – Interfaith Hospitality Network
• Philadelphia – Our Brother’s Place
• Philadelphia – Northern Home for Children
• Philadelphia – St. Francis Inn
• Philadelphia – St. John’s Hospice
• Philadelphia – Savior Church
• Philadelphia – Street Ministry
• Philadelphia – Old First Shelter
• Phoenixville – Good Samaritan
• Pottstown – In Ian’s Boots
• Slippery Rock – Covenant House
• Upper Darby – Fresh Awakening
• Wayne – Men-to-Men Mentoring
• West Chester – St. Agnes Day Room
• West Chester – Friends Shelter
• West Chester – Safe Harbor
• West Conshohocken – Cradles to Crayons
• Wyndmoor – LaSalle College High School (outreach program)

Texas

• San Antonio – Resurrection Ministries
• San Antonio – SAMM Ministries

Virginia

• Arlington – Meade Memorial Episcopal Church

Washington

• Marysville – Hillside Church (not yet, but on list)

Washington, D.C.

• Washington, D.C. – Back on My Feet

Three of the Moms who help organize a sock drive at Shir Ami Synagog in Newtown, PA

Conducting sock drives is a fun activity and a great way to both raise awareness of the plight of the homeless and the problems they have from not having new socks.

Sock drives can be held in your school, church, workplace, favorite store…or anyplace.

We have found that various classes, grades or departments can get into some friendly competition during the course of a sock drive.  For example, one dorm at a college or university may feel “energized” to collect more new socks than another dorm. Or the 6th graders feel that there is no way the 4th graders will collect more socks.

You get the idea.  And everybody wins.

Instructions on how to run a Sox Drive

Here are the instructions on how to run a sock drive.  Make sure you let us know what you are doing so we can spread the word about your great drive!!

Click here to go to our Contact page and sent us an email or give us a call!  We’d love to hear from you and discuss your ideas.

Sox drive instructions pdf format

Sox drive instructions updated docx format (uses Microsoft Word)

His ability to build a puppet better the puppet vision I had in my head was amazing.

This is the video of me meeting Joy for the first time. I was so excited I almost cried.  But Joy has a serious job as National Spokes-Puppet.

Her job is to raise awareness of the plight of the homeless and the foot health problems they have because they do not have new clean socks.  Stay tuned for more on this serious issue.

Bob Breeser packages socks for the homeless for The Joy of Sox

Main Line Media News’s Alan Thomas stopped by at a recent sock sorting, pairing, packaging event.  He talked to a lot of people and took a lot of pictures. And his story got published!  Front page!

Click here to read the story.

Thanks Alan and all the volunteers who made the event possible!!

He also thanked Sam, who made a personal donation of a bag of new socks.  Thanks Sam!!

The Joy of Sox - providing socks for the homeless

After a few days for frustration our website is back up.  Not yet 100%, but almost there!

A big THANK YOU to all who helped get us back on line.  But an even BIGGER thank you to our friends, volunteers and website viewers for your patience while we were offline!

Click the Concept sketches for the new Joy The Sock Puppet to see a bigger image.

Which one do you like?  Or don’t like?

We are getting ready to do a “complete makeover” for Joy The Sock Puppet, our Official Sock Puppet.

She plans to be our National Spokes Puppet for the plight of the homeless and the horrendous health problem they have because they do not have clean new socks.

The second prototype and current Joy The Sock Puppet

Part of her job is to go to places where sox drive are held and tell the story about homeless and socks.

She also wants to do a video with some more puppet friends and be on GMA.  She definitely has some big ideas how to raise awareness.

So…we’d like you opinions, comments, thoughts and suggestions. Email Joy at Joy@TheJoyOfSox.org

Google “socks for the homeless”

Most homeless people really need socks!

When you Google “socks for the homeless” you might get over 4,480,000 hits. But when you look closer you may only find a few organizations that might be of interest to you.

However, it really doesn’t matter whether you help any of the 4,480,000 or The Joy of Sox. What is important is you that help out with an organization that you really can connect with and are passionate about. If it’s an organization that works with teens in San Francisco or a group that is working with migrant workers it doesn’t matter.

Pick one that resonates with you and become passionately involved with that organization. Share you time, treasure and talents with that nonprofit.  The world will be a better place if you do.

If you happen to like the concept of The Joy of Sox please click here or on the “What we do” tab above.

Some happy socks for happy toes for the homeless - The Joy of Sox

The goal of our 1.2 Million Happy Toes Initiative – Philadelphia is to provide one pair of new socks ever month to every homeless person around the Philadelphia area.

The name comes from, and this takes some math so bear with us, the fact that there are approximately 10,000 homeless in Philadelphia and the surrounding area (Trenton, NJ; Camden, NJ; Wilmington, DE; and the surrounding suburbs).  If each person has 10 toes.  And each person needs (at the least) one new pair of socks per month – meaning they need 12 pairs in a year.

So…here’s the math: 10,000 (homeless) x 10 (toes) x 12 (pairs of socks) = 1.2 million.

That’s how we came up with the name 1.2 Million Happy Toes Initiative – Philadelphia!

What’s next could be the 1.4 Million Happy Toes Initiative – Chicago!  Then LA…you get the idea!!

The Joy of Sox, providing socks for the homeless, received a trademark from the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

The Joy of Sox® was registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on July 16, 2011, registration number 3,997,348.

The registration means that the name “The Joy Of Sox” is now protected under U.S. patent and trademark laws from others using the same name.

The trademark is granted for: charitable services, namely, providing socks to needy persons,

This is really cool!!

The Joy of Sox providing socks for the homeless

Contact: Tom Costello, Jr.
Phone: 610-688-3318
Email:  Tom@TheJoyOfSox.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Former High School Dropouts Give Back By Holding
Bar-B-Que for the Homeless

YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School Students
Serving up Hot Dogs and…Sock!

PHILADELPHIA, PA-May 12, 2011  ” What motivates out-of-school youth in Philadelphia to go back to school to earn a diploma? And what also motivates them to hold an end of semester service project where they are hosting a bar-b-que for the homeless? A group of students at YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School feel that, regardless of their situation, there is always room to help the less fortunate.

On Thursday, May 19^, from 10:30 am to 1:00 pm at the Sullivan Building on N. Broad Street, 25 students will serve lunch to approximately 50 homeless residents from different shelters in the city.  The students will also distribute socks, with goodies inside them as a special treat for the guests.

The idea for this project actually came from the students, said Willa Deitch, Community Projects Coordinator at YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School.  Earlier in the year, Tom Costello Jr, from The Joy of Sox, spoke to students about how he helps the homeless by giving them much needed socks. He also brought two cases of sock ˜seconds” to be paired before they could be distributed. The students enjoyed the project and wanted to find a way to continue working with The Joy of Sox.”

“It makes me feel like I’m really making a difference”, says Amika Miller, a YouthBuild student in the class.  ”We want to remind people that we’re there to support them and each other.”

For more information about this event, please contact Kristen Forbriger at YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School at (610) 585-4819 or Tom Costello, Jr. from The Joy of Sox at 610-745-1075.

(MORE)

About Youth Build Philadelphia Charter School

YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School is an innovative alternative education program offering a second chance for former high school dropouts, ages 18-21, to earn their high school diploma while learning vital job skills. The comprehensive curriculum at YouthBuild combines rigorous academics, vocational training, community service, and counseling to help students establish and achieve post-secondary education and career goals.

About The Joy of Sox

The Joy of Sox is a 501(c)(3) organization that has a simple mission: to provide socks for the homeless.  They also strive to raise awareness of the plight of the homeless and the health problems that can be mitigated by something as basic as a pair of new socks.

# # #

The Villanova University ALumni Magazine did a feature story on Tom Costello Jr and The Joy of Sox in their 2011 Spring Service edition.

This is really humbling.  My undergraduate alma mater, Villanova University included my nonprofit, The Joy of Sox, in their Spring 2011 issue on service.

What started out as an attempt to help out at a soup kitchen in Philly has really taken off.  And I’d like to thanks Father Peter for the introduction, and Mercedes Ott and Shawn Proctor for producing and writing the piece.

With only a little over six months of actual operation we have already given out thousands of pairs of socks to the homeless and needy in and around Philly, plus eight states and Afghanistan.  We have had schools conduct sock drives, strangers donate socks, donations appear in the mail and on Pay Pal, and volunteers show up out of almost nowhere.  We even had a resolution passed in Harrisburg by the state senate declaring Valentine’s Day as “National Socks for the Homeless Day.”

I can’t wait to see what the next six months brings, as we continue to raise awareness of the plight of the homeless, and the health problems that can be mitigated by something a simple as a pair of socks.

A big Thank You from me, and an especially big thank you from all those who benefited from new socks!!

The homeless man went on to tell that he was walking around (as the homeless do to get from one place to another) and it was cold and rainy. His socks got soaked. But they were his only pair. So he wore them (cold wet socks) for many days.

His feet got infected with some sort of gangrene. He was fortunate not to have his toes amputated.

A pair of nice new socks could have prevented this.

This is a little long…but hopefully worthwhile.

What do you think?

What Is a Social Entrepreneur?
“Social entrepreneurs are not content just to give a fish or teach how to fish. They will not rest until they have revolutionized the fishing industry.”
Bill Drayton, CEO, chair and founder of Ashoka, a global nonprofit organization devoted to developing the profession of social entrepreneurship

Just as entrepreneurs change the face of business, social entrepreneurs act as the change agents for society, seizing opportunities others miss and improving systems, inventing new approaches and creating sustainable solutions to change society for the better. However, unlike business entrepreneurs who are motivated by profits, social entrepreneurs are motivated to improve society. Despite this difference, social entrepreneurs are just as innovative and change oriented as their business counterparts, searching for new and better ways to solve the problems that plague society.

Social entrepreneurs are:

• Ambitious: Social entrepreneurs tackle major social issues, from increasing the college enrollment rate of low-income students to fighting poverty in developing countries. These entrepreneurial leaders operate in all kinds of organizations: innovative nonprofits, social purpose ventures such as for-profit community development banks, and hybrid organizations that mix elements of nonprofit and for-profit organizations.

• Mission driven: Generating social value-not wealth-is the central criterion of a successful social entrepreneur. While wealth creation may be part of the process, it is not an end in itself. Promoting systemic social change is the real objective.

• Strategic: Like business entrepreneurs, social entrepreneurs see and act upon what others miss: opportunities to improve systems, create solutions and invent new approaches that create social value. And like the best business entrepreneurs, social entrepreneurs are intensely focused and hard-driving-even relentless-in their pursuit of a social vision.

• Resourceful: Because social entrepreneurs operate within a social context rather than the business world, they have limited access to capital and traditional market support systems. As a result, social entrepreneurs must be exceptionally skilled at mustering and mobilizing human, financial and political resources.

• Results oriented: Ultimately, social entrepreneurs are driven to produce measurable returns. These results transform existing realities, open up new pathways for the marginalized and disadvantaged, and unlock society’s potential to effect social change.

Reprinted courtesy of The Skoll Foundation

The Joy of Sox's display at a Tom's Shoes, Day Without Shoes event held at The Center on Central in Paoli, PA. Britta Winans is on the left.

Isn’t collaboration great? Last week, to celebrate Tom’s Shoes, One Day Without Shoes awareness day, we set up a display exhibit in The Center on Central, in Paoli, PA.

Britta Winans was on hand to talk about all the good work we do in helping provide socks for the homeless.   She even developed a PowerPoint presentation that shows our reach and the number of people we have helped.

During the event a few people asked how they can get involved in helping provide socks for the homeless. Based on the level of interest we will probably have two more opportunities to conduct sock drives in local schools!

Sock sorting event at Shir Ami Congregation netted 853 pairs of socks for the homeless and The Joy of Sox. From L to R Rachel, Gail and Holly.

Tonight we had a really nice event – a sock sorting party at the Shir Ami Congregation in Newtown, PA.  The event was organized by Gail Rose, and among the adult helpers that agreed to be photographed, were Rachel and Holly.

The amazing thing was that 18 or so “energetic” third graders, and a handful of 6th and 7th graders (plus a few Moms) were able to get so much accomplished in only a few hours.

Many thanks to the people of Shir Ami that came out to help.  And it was a 7th grader who knew figured out that the homeless man in San Antonio who follows us on Facebook probably has access to a computer at a local public library.

What a great way to spend a Wednesday evening, and those socks are an initial part of our 1,200,000 Happy Toes Initiative – Philadelphia (more on that later).

Sock sorting event at Shir Ami Congregation netted 853 pairs of socks for the homeless and The Joy of Sox. From L to R: Rachel, Gail and Holly.

A pictures of Jesus and the homeless at St. John's Hospice, Philly

Yesterday afternoon I was in Philly delivering some socks. I was talking to Gerry at St. John’s Hospice and there was a homeless man, I believe his name was Nate, a few feet away.

Nate made eye contact with us.  Gerry said hello and shook his hand.  I said hi and also shook his hand.  We chatted for a few minutes.

Nate said thanks for not looking through me, you gave me dignity.

The amazing power of just saying hello.

MANTucson. The Men's Accountability Network is a great ministry that provides food for the homeless..and now also socks.

The other day Wayne emailed me with a question about socks.

He runs MAN Tucson.org. It’s a city wide men’s ministry that he founded to help care for the homeless in Tucson, AZ.  They are not a ministry of a single local church, instead they are a Men’s Accountability Network that serves all churches in the city of Tucson.

One of the great things Wayne does each week is to go to Costco and buy food to feed the homeless on the weekend.

So, while email is great, I called him up on Sunday and we talked for a long while.  More on this later, but we will be sending  a case of new socks to him next week.

We are also in the process of setting up a Sock Drawer of  The Joy of Sox in Arizona.

Joy The Sock Puppet is the official Spokes-Puppet for The Joy Of Sox - providing socks for the homeless.

This is really exciting news!!  Joy the Sock Puppet™, is now the official Spokes-Puppet for The Joy of Sox.

She is excited about her role, but still a little shy because she does not have a voice yet.

But she is fearless.  She is already working on a series of videos for YouTube talking about the plight of the homeless and the health problems of not having proper socks.

And she is thinking big.  She whispered to me this morning that she really wants to do Good Morning America.

She also was mad at me for taking her picture before she did her hair!

JeffHOPE and The Joy of Sox work together to provide socks for the homeless

JeffHOPE is a constellation of student-run free clinics run by Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia.  JeffHOPE passionately commits to treating the underserved men, women, and children of Philadelphia, embracing the values of kindness, equality, and excellence.

They accomplish this mission by providing free, quality care to all, through student-run clinics; educating their patients on their health and how to maintain it; advocating for improved patient care; and teaching each other to become stronger clinicians.  They aim to empower these individuals to regain their footing and climb out of poverty.

The Joy of Sox is happy to help provide socks to the homeless and needy population they serve.

Lots of bags of sorted socks waiting to be delivered to the homeless by The Joy of Sox.

On Sunday March 19, several volunteers helped organize and sort 3,550 pairs of socks for the homeless.  These socks were recently collected from various school sock drives around the Philadelphia area.

The socks were sorted into bags of men’s, women’s and children’s socks.  The children’s socks were sorted for ages 0 – 5 and 6 – 13.

The photo show some of the bags in our storage facility.  Each bag contains between 36 and 52 pairs of nice new socks.

The bags will be delivered to facilities in Philadelphia, Montgomery and Chester County, PA in the next two weeks.  Thanks to Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s for supplying the bags.

And lots of thanks to our volunteers who spent part of their Saturday bagging socks!

Unfortunately there are children in dire need of socks, so here are some happy socks for them!

The Interfaith Hospitality Network Main Line, headquartered in Norristown, PA, unites people from different segments of the caring community to work collaboratively to alleviate the suffering of homeless families.  And one of the things they needed, according to Sue Herchek White, Executive Director, was socks.

But not just any sock, they wanted socks for children up to age five.  So last week The Joy of Socks delivered 250 pairs of colorful socks for the homeless children they serve.

There should now be 2,500 warm, happy toes.

The Billy Mock Foundation matched the number of socks collected by St. Thomas the Apostle School.

The Billy Mock Foundation is generously supporting The Joy of Sox in a great way.

On a previous post we said that St. Thomas The Apostle School in Glen Mills, PA  is holding a sock drive this week.  The sock drive will be to collect socks for homeless children.  Well, the Billy Mock Foundation has agreed to match the number of socks that the students collect.

So this is really 2 for 1 event!  Thank you so much Billy Mock Foundation.  There will now be twice as many warm toes this winter!

St. Thomas Apostle School to conduct a sock drive for the homeless

Next week is Catholic School’s Week in Philadelphia and the students at St. Thomas the Apostle School, Glen Mills, PA have decided to have a drive to collect socks for the homeless.

All students in pre-K through 8th grade will get involved.   The students will collect socks for the needy children their own age.

After the drive the socks will be delivered and make lots of toes happy and warm.

Thanks to the students at St. Thomas!

Our Mother of Consolation School to conduct a sock drive for the homeless

Next week is Catholic School’s Week in Philadelphia and the students at Our Mother of Consolation School have decided to have a drive to collect socks for the homeless.

All students in pre-K through 8th grade will get involved.  The lower grades will collect socks for children, while the upper grades will collect socks for adult.

After the drive the socks will be delivered to Chestnut Hill College where some student interns will bring them to the homeless around Philly.

Thanks to the students, faculty and staff at OMC!

YouthBuild Charter School - Philadelphia helped sort socks for the homeless with The Joy of Sox

What a wonderful experience it was to talk to Willa Deitch’s students at the YouthBuild Charter School in Philly yesterday.  There were 13 students in her class.

The students were attentive, got involved in the discussion and asked a lot of questions – what a great class!

The service project that Willa picked for this class was two fold: raise awareness of the homeless, and provide the homeless with new socks.

According to their web site, “The YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School provides out-of-school youth in Philadelphia with the broadest range of tools, support and opportunities to become self-sufficient, responsible, contributing members and leaders in their community.”

And if this service project (more on this in a later post) is any indication of how these students can help the less fortunate in the community then we should be very proud of the job Willa and her students are doing.

Great job guys!!