DENVER — While visions of sugar plums and stockings overflowing with goodies dance in the heads of many, there are thousands in the Denver Metro Area that simply long for a pair of new socks to put on.  The elements of winter, being on one’s feet all day and hours of walking causes socks to disintegrate, therefore a pair of socks on one who experiences homelessness last about a week!  Therefore, in recognition of socks being the #1 clothing need of those who are experiencing homelessness, Mayor Hancock and the Mayors Caucus are proclaiming Dec. 14 as “Sock It To Em Work Day!”

On December 14 the Mayor’s request that citizens forego wearing their socks to experience what it’s like to go throughout an entire day without socks and to then pledge to provide new socks, before the end of December to the many locations involved with the Sock It To Em Sock Campaign. The Sock It To Em Sock Campaign is a 501c3 Public Charity whose goal is to put socks on the feet of all those who experience homelessness or are in need.

“People in a state of homelessness don’t have a sock drawer. We need to be their sock drawer. Last year with the public exposure due to Mayor Hancock and the Mayor’s Caucus proclaiming the second Wednesday in December to be known as “Sock It To Em Work Day,” the campaign was able to obtain 33,000 pairs of new socks and delivered them to forty shelter, services and agencies in the Greater Metropolitan Area. Sue Lee, Chair, and Founder of the “Sock it To Em” Sock Campaign said, “This year, we know we can do more! We have set a goal of 120,000 pairs of socks! 25% of the homeless are children; Denver has over a thousand teens who seek the assistance of Urban Peak downtown and 11 % of the homeless are veterans, and they all deserve to put on a pair of warm socks like you and I.”

Phillis Shimamoto, President and a Founder of the Sock It To Em Sock Campaign noted,  “What we began with a handful of girlfriends, in Denver is now in 37 states. Any person, business, place of worship, café, etc. who collects socks is called a ‘Sock Ambassador.’  Sock Ambassadors collect socks, get them to us, and we get them out on the streets.  Our youngest is Lena Young, who is nine years old and through her efforts has obtained over 7,500 pairs of socks since June!  If a child can do it, so can you!”

Police headquarters throughout Denver have gotten into the sock-it-to-me spirit and are acting as “Sock Ambassadors.” They will be collecting socks at every station through the month of December. Captain William “Bill” Nagle in Community Relations and Northwest Denver’s District 1 Sergeant Kim Lovato are actively engaging their precincts in this sock campaign for a cause. Collectively they view this as an important foothold into the giving season. Lovato said, “I met the founders, Sue and Phillis, not too long ago and they wanted to figure out a way to get the DPD involved with their wonderful organization.  We are on board and will have collection sites at all of the police districts and DPD headquarters. We already have collections boxes at District 1 – 1311 W. 46th Ave, District 5 – 4685 Peoria St. and at Police Headquarters- 1331 Cherokee St.” For more information contact Captain Nagle, [email protected].

When considering ways of giving this holiday season consider stepping up to support this important cause for the homeless. www.sockittoemsockcampaign.org.

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