Sock donations for the homeless

Socks are the most needed, but often the least donated items at homeless shelters. A pair of socks can make a big difference to someone who needs them—especially as the weather gets colder.

This year, the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario’s (RNAO) Middlesex-Elgin Chapter partnered with 519Pursuit; a local non-profit organization helping homelessness in London, to gather and donate socks for those facing homelessness and poverty during the winter months.

With a lofty goal to collect 55,000 pairs for those in need, RNAO chapter members across St. Joseph’s Health Care London sprang into action, rallying staff and physicians to support the campaign, which ran from Oct. 13 to Nov. 14. Laundry hampers were placed near staff entrances to make donating as easy as possible.

St. Joseph’s generously collected over 800 pairs of new socks, which were all donated by staff and physicians.

“I am so proud of the way our organized stepped up,” says Leslien Walters, an RNAO chapter member and clinical nurse specialist at St. Joseph’s. "Many staff and physicians understand and appreciate the issues of homelessness, especially for the patient population that we serve within Parkwood Institute’s Mental Health Care Program. It was a great way to support our community and give back."

The sock drive also supports St. Joseph’s mission: to advocate with those who are vulnerable and without a voice.

"We were fortunate and grateful for the RNAO champions at St. Joseph's who helped to support this campaign and to work to improve the experience of those living in homelessness in our community,” says Janet Hunt, President of the Middlesex Elgin Chapter of RNAO.