The Toasty Toes Drive is Providing Warm Socks this Christmas Season

Socks are a popular gift idea during Christmas. They are inexpensive, practical, comfortable, and provide warmth. So why not donate a pair of cozy socks to those in need in your community?

At the beginning of every kettle season, socks become a topic of conversation among clients and staff of The Salvation Army’s Prairie Division. This is thanks to the annual Toasty Toes Sock Drive.

This initiative was born seven years ago in partnership with the Chiropractors’ Association of Saskatchewan. They collect socks between October and November, which are then all delivered to The Salvation Army on the first week of December.

“We want people to have warm, dry, clean socks so that they’re able to get through the winter months.”

“The socks are all donated to The Salvation Army. We use them throughout the division and the province. We also share them with other community partners to make sure that we’re helping whoever we can,” Major Al Hoeft said. “This is year number seven, and the program is going strong with no signs of slowing down.”

On the day the socks are delivered to The Salvation Army, these are all piled up by a Christmas tree, forming a sock mountain. Major Hoeft says this year, they are anticipating approximately 10,000 socks to be donated.

Donations of food and clothing are common. However, socks are often forgotten. Socks are extremely important, especially to those exposed to the elements during the harsh Prairie winters.

“It’s such a small thing, but it makes such a big difference.”

“We want people to have warm, dry, clean socks so that they’re able to get through the winter months. When people call us to ask what kind of things we need, we always talk about socks, underwear, mitts and toques. People who come into programs in the community, they’re often looking for those items,” Major Hoeft explained.

The Salvation Army has a long tradition when it comes to giving out socks. During both world wars, The Salvation Army provided socks to those on the front lines, who desperately needed fresh socks to keep warm and prevent trench foot.

The Toasty Toes Sock Drive keeps this tradition alive, making a difference in the lives of those in need this Christmas and throughout winter. Since the creation of this campaign, over 92,000 pairs of socks have been collected. Every year, Major Hoeft enjoys the opportunity to take part in this campaign.

“I’ve had the privilege of being the guy that hands over a nice pair of clean, dry, warm socks to somebody who really needs them. People are always very grateful. It’s such a small thing, but it makes such a big difference,” Major Hoeft added.

By Juan Romero