Eugene Health Guide Article
GIVE A SOCK - EVERY FOOT MATTERS
"We deliver from the housed to the unhoused!"
WHAT...
We've been stuffing 1000’s of donated socks with donated essentials and important resources to access since 2014, delivering daily to fellow town members in need – mostly in the Whiteaker and Market Districts devoted to showing up to say, Your lives are important and they matter!
is the main reason we joyfully scour the streets to help cheer up whenever possible. Humor is one of the most healing things on the streets and the laughter with friends found here could fill a book. The stuffed socks are generally tossed to the recipient in a quick game of catch which most get a kick out of and enjoy seeing what's inside this time.
Socks are the number one requested item for homeless people and stuffing them with snacks, info and other essentials also makes a difference immediately. Socks are delivered daily in either 3 (20 minute) runs or one hour all at once either morning or evening.
Showing love is the best things I can teach!
We all belong here - we are all connected!
WHAT IS GIVEN...
Socks: Women, children, men
Snacks: fig and granola, fresh fruit
Information pamphlets: community resources to access & addresses
Vitamin C packets: EmergenC packets, herbal cough drops, tea
Positive messages: quotes, homemade hearts, uplifting messages
Body products: wet-ones packets, tooth care, chapstick, sunscreen, lotion, first-aid kits, mylar emergency blankets, hand warmers, sewing kits and more
WHO GIVES A…
We love getting the community involved and many friendships have form through donations and help from:
Over 100 clients have given especially a handful who give monthly, some anonymously Individual community members including 93 year old Corvallis woman Virginia who hand makes thousands of loving messages A Florence couple gives monthly People from Northern and Southern California, Sedona, Arizona to Switzerland Bombas socks (buy one give one) gave 1000 last year Urban Therapeutic Banner Bank Creswell Cub Scouts Ridgeview Elementary and Irving Elementary One of the first people we gave to now gives us money monthly and deliver socks in PDX
WHO STUFFS SOCKS…
Ridgeview Elementary did a huge sock drive where all first graders donated and stuffed hundreds of socks for over the Holidays Blue Cliff Zen Center have stuffed hundreds so far Creswell Cub Scouts My 9 year old niece Makenna and 7 year old nephew Miles and myself
WHO GETS THE SOCKS…
Anybody in need and seen on the street.
WHERE WE SLING…
What we affectionately call “sock slingin”, takes place from my car; tossing socks, delivering around the Whiteaker and Market Districts and River Road to anyone in need and Eugene Mission traffic and guests. There is a list of rules given before driving around which even the news anchor Kendall Bartley followed for safety.
WHEN…
Socks are delivered daily either 3 (20 minute) runs on breaks or one hour all at once. In the morning or evening. Holidays too.
WHY…
It's something we all can do
There are many things I cannot do for those in need. I don't give money, I can't change the laws some have broken. I cannot bring back loved ones. But I can ask for things they need from people who have it and then give it to them. I can give information about where to get help. I can smile and create laughter at my own expense. I can show care to fellow town members who need anything but judgment. I can beg so they don't have to lose more dignity by having to ask. I can yell and throw things. I can give until more shows up. I can care!
My boyfriend died in my arms at UCSF on 12/23/02 of cystic fibrosis. Building relationships while dealing with PTSD from that experience has been tricky for me and triggers can be a painful paradox. It is healing for me confronting fears and building rapports with people... I may see daily or never again.
WANTED… NEEDS FROM THE COMMUNITY
HOSTABASKET to collect donations in your workplace (we provide basket drop off and pick up and social media pictures) GET ON A LIST for sock stuffing socials hosted by businesses SIGN UP to come sock slinging DONATE through mail or email to find basket locations - giveasock@gmail.com DONATE money through our website - giveasock.org FOLLOW US on Facebook and Instagram @giveasock
We are a domestic nonprofit corporation registered with the secretary of state (not yet 501c3)
- giveasock.org
- giveasock@gmail.com
- P.O. Box 984
- Eugene, OR 97440
ABOUT SERENA
My first volunteer experience was while living with my Nana in Maine in 1996 at age 17 - Healthy Kids
- Parents Anonymous meetings where parents would learn coping tips and I'd watch their kids during the meetings.
FULL CIRCLE… I paid for part of my massage therapy education at national Holistic Institute using a grant I receive for doing 1800 hours of service with AmeriCorps. With an education in both service and massage therapy, my first loves (23 years and 18 years) are now what fuel both my profit and nonprofit businesses. I love how it's all intertwined - with the service work I did in my teens, building my massage education and now my massage business helping my service work! It's so beautiful how so many of my massage clients love helping & bring donations on a regular basis.
2014 - Give a Sock - unofficially started
2017 - people started calling me, the Sock Lady.
2019 - Give a Sock, 2019 - Officially started, registered state nonprofit, got social media and kept logistics – 6,132 pairs donated from hundreds of people, stuffed with goodies & given in 2019.
I rarely follow the leader and can relate to the free range warrior spirits on the streets who have fought battles and survived a lot. I imagine that in some ways we all can when given the chance to connect or relate. Connections made are meaningful and impactful both to the giver and receiver. Listening to intuition and honoring when to stop and when to keep going have been monumental. It's a strange juxtaposition loving when my car is loaded with stuffed socks ready to give and then after, loving when my car is empty and all socks have been given. Thank goodness more socks keep showing up continuing this life pattern of having and not having. It's hard to tell which feeling I prefer, having them to give or having given them, regardless both keep me going.
Thank you for caring and for sharing and for giving a sock! Love, the Sock Lady
