North Dakota Governor, Jack Dalrymple, signed a Proclamation that February 14, 2105 (Valentine’s Day) is Socks For The Homeless Day in North Dakota.
The proclamation notes that North Dakota’s homeless population nearly doubled from 2012 to 2013 and that all donations of clothing to organizations assisting the homeless are desperately needed and appreciated. But new socks are probably the number one item clothing item the homeless need but are rarely donated.
Erin Bertel, Chief Sock Angel for The Joy Of Sox®, and a resident of Fargo, ND gets all the credit for convincing the North Dakota legislature to do this.
The original idea behind Proclamations and Resolutions like this came from Tom Costello Jr, founder of The Joy Of Sox, a nonprofit that provides joy to the homeless by giving them new socks. Tom noticed that people are usually generous (or guilty) between Thanksgiving and the end of the year. Lots of clothing donations are made during that time, but once the new year starts donations just about stop.
So in order to keep the needy in mind during the cold month of February Tom wanted to tie another holiday (or sorts) – Valentine’s Day – into a day of doing something for the homeless. The idea was that in addition to calling your Mom, and giving flowers or candy to a loved one to please also try to remember the homeless by making a donation of new socks to a shelter or an organization that provides new socks for the homeless.
In addition to North Dakota, both Pennsylvania and New York have passed Resolutions or Proclamations declaring Valentine’s Day (February 14th) as Sock For The Homeless Day.
Forty seven more States to go!
If anyone has connections with a state legislature and wants to help please contact us here. Thanks so much!
