Siloam gets kick out of donation of 40,000 pairs of socks
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It’s the most asked for item by people who use Siloam Mission, but it’s the one that’s donated the least.
Socks make life easier for those who live on the streets and are “essential for comfort and dignity,” said Kendall Giilck of Siloam Mission.
The Winnipeg shelter received a donation of 40,000 pairs of new socks from Calgary-based business Sock Rocket.
SUPPLIED
Bill Heil (left) and Kendall Giilck with some of the 40,000 pairs of new socks from Calgary-based business Sock Rocket.
“We had no socks in the building at all to be able to give to our community members who needed them, so now we will be in business for socks for the next several months,” said Giilck.
The donation came together after the Manitoba Nurses Union named Siloam as the recipient of a large purchase made as part of nurse appreciation week. Sock Rocket donates three pairs for every pair sold.
“They’re the item that we go through the quickest, and I imagine that goes the same across any organization, especially here in Manitoba,” Giilck said. “We can’t go without socks, especially in the winter.”
Siloam hosts more than 140 people in its shelter each night and goes through nearly 8,000 pairs of socks monthly. Giilck said it’s common for people to show up at the non-profit’s doors with no socks on their feet because the organization can’t keep up with the demand.
“People run out of them before they even realize it, and then it starts to add up really quickly. People definitely take them for granted,” said Giilck. “Someone can reuse their socks because they have laundry at home, but if someone’s living outside or living in a shelter, they don’t have that same level of access that we do.”
She said it’s a basic necessity that will also help prevent infections, blisters in the summertime, and frostbite in the winter.
“As nurses, we are always called to help those in need,” said a statement from the nurses union. “It’s an honour to be able to help such a worthy cause.”
massimo.deluca-taronno@freepress.mb.ca