Local teen starts sock campaign for people in need
Austin (KXAN) — Instead of books or backpacks, Lake Travis student Milan Carlson's trunk is full of bundles of new socks ready to be handed out to whoever needs a pair.
Carlson said her family has spent much of its time volunteering to serve the unhoused in Austin. It was during those experiences where she became aware of how great the need for socks is in the unhoused community.
“They were always like 'socks are like gold out here' and always appreciate them," Carlson said.
She said it was about eight years ago when she and other members of her family started keeping bunches of new socks in their cars, handing them out if they saw someone they suspected of needing a fresh pair.
“We've been buying bulk socks and just keeping them in the cars and whenever we see someone downtown and in Austin, we give them to them," Carlson said.
She's called the campaign Socks for the Soul and has inspired dozens of people in her church to start carrying socks as well.
“I would say just from the church, that's probably around 50 to 60 people. Maybe like 20 families that have started keeping socks in their cars," Carlson said.
Carlson said a majority of the people she encounters while handing out socks are unhoused.
Haggai Eshed is the Operations Coordinator at Sunrise Church Homeless Navigation Center and oversees the many basic necessities handed out those that visit the center.
“Hygiene kits, some [people] that donate put socks inside. Other times, we have socks in the front in the office, that we're giving individuals every day when they come in," Eshed said.
Along with the social benefit, food, and clothing assistance Sunrise provides, socks and hygiene items are some of the items highest in demand.
Because people wear socks everyday, Eshed said there may be aspects people with homes might not have considered before.
"Socks are very valuable. People also love black socks, just because white socks will get more dirty. We encourage people to take some of these hygiene kits that have socks in them and give them out," Eshed said.
People like Carlson are already acting on that message and are literally taking it to the streets.
“I've seen people get down in the rain, sit on the road and put on the socks. And it's just really moving," Carlson said.
Carlson said it's simple to get started with acts of kindness like this, just buy pairs of socks and give them away.
Organizations like Sunrise Church Homeless Navigation Center also collect essential items everyday. Eshed encourages anyone that wishes to contribute physical or monetary donations to check out the center's highlighted needs on its website.