It’s that time of year again! Pumpkin spice lattes are back at Starbucks, there are more leaves on the ground than there are on the trees, and that crisp, autumn air has made its presence known.
Socktober has arrived my friends. Yes, SOCK-tober.
Each year, individuals and organizations alike take part in #Socktober, in an effort to raise awareness, and socks, for those in need.
Did you know that socks are one of the most requested items in homeless shelters? What’s worse is there are more than 600,000 people who are homeless on the streets of America today.
Who would have ever thought that socks were such a luxury? For most of us, a pair of socks is easily taken for granted. We reach into a drawer, pull out a pair and go on with our day.
When they become ripped, or lose their match, we simply discard them to the trash, and pick up a new pack at the store.
But for many of our neighbors who find themselves without a home, or many belongings of their own, a pair of socks is worth so much more.
In an effort to raise awareness for the most requested item in homeless shelters, thousands of people around the country take to social media to share in the cause.
Some simply spread awareness by sharing the need with their friends, while others have the resources to do even more.
Addison Howard, from Denver, Colorado, takes part in #Socktober annually as a “post-a-pair, give-a-pair challenge.”
Happy #Socktober17 Day 1!
For those of you new to this, welcome to 31 days of sock photos. Yes, sock photos. But a…
Posted by Addison Howard on Sunday, October 1, 2017
For each of the 31 days in October, Addison posts his own photo of the socks he’s wearing. Then, for anyone who tags him in their own sock post, or uses his hashtag for the month, Addison will buy a pair of socks for those in need.
Last year, he purchased 523 pairs of socks, thanks to the response of people on social media. And a number of others joined him in the cause by matching his donation. With the help of social media, and a simple hashtag, Addison was able to donate more than 3,000 pairs of socks to local homeless shelters.
Facebook/Addison Howard
And that’s only one example of the impact that #Socktober can have on the homeless community.
In an effort to keep the mission behind Socktober going all year long, a company called Bombas was created based on the statistic that socks are the #1 most requested item in homeless shelters across the nation.
The social enterprise is a sock company, committed to donating one pair of socks for every pair that they sell. They’ve taken the buy-a-pair, give-a-pair model to a whole new level.
Since their first round of pre-sales in 2013, the company (whose initial mission was to give away 1 million pairs of socks by 2025) has since given away almost 4.5 million pairs.
You don’t have to do something major to help change the world in a major way.
Bombas has made it simple—buy a pair of socks, and they’ll take care of the rest.
Plus, there’s still time to join the thousands of people around the country who are taking part in Socktober to raise awareness about the need for socks among the homeless community.
Buy a pair of Bombas, or post a picture with the hashtag. Then watch as the world begins to have real conversations about real issues, that can be solved by everyday people, like you.
