Socks are a basic necessity, and this October, the Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) is once again mobilizing the community for SOCKtober, a sock drive to address the need for socks among children participating in CCE’s Holiday Helper program. In its third consecutive year, the initiative also extends its reach by donating extra adult socks to Home Sweet Home Ministries.
SOCKtober first started when CCE staff realized that socks were the most requested item in the Center’s Holiday Helper program, an annual effort to provide gifts to children in the local community during the holiday season. The SOCKtober drive ensures that every child sponsored by the program receives socks, allowing both children and sponsors to focus on other items from their wish lists.
Throughout the month of October, new socks in their original packaging can be dropped off at the Center for Civic Engagement office (300 W. North St., Normal) during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Donation drop boxes can also be found across campus, including in residence hall lobbies, McCormick Hall 187, and the Bone Student Center (room 225). Alternatively, socks can be purchased via Amazon Wishlist and mailed directly to the CCE office.
“Everyone who participates in SOCKtober, even if donating a single pair of socks, helps make a difference in the lives of local children and contributes to their health and well-being during the holiday season,” said Afiwa TETE, assistant director of cocurricular programs at the CCE. “Clean and good quality socks are important to prevent health conditions such as frostbite, fungal infections, and poor circulation, especially as the winter approaches and temperatures start to drop.”
The most requested sock types in the program include men’s and women’s athletic socks, boys’ size medium socks, and thick, warm socks for the winter season. Ultimately, all types, styles, and sizes of socks, from infant to adult, are welcome. The initiative encourages everyone to participate in any way they can.
Past SOCKtober drives have been exceptionally successful, with last year’s numbers exceeding expectations. In the first year of the program, the Center for Civic Engagement collected six to eight pairs of socks per child, well surpassing the initial goal of one pair per child. In 2022, over 200 local children received socks accompanying their Holiday Helper gifts. This achievement was made possible with the community’s generosity and the involvement of various campus units.
This year also sees the return of “Fun Sock Friday,” a movement that encourages faculty, staff, and students at Illinois State University to wear fun socks on Fridays throughout October. To raise awareness for the SOCKtober campaign, pictures can be shared on social media with the hashtag #FunSockFriday and tagged with the Center for Civic Engagement pages (@RedbirdImpact).
