When the Center for Civic Engagement’s Annie Weaver noticed a trend of multiple kids listing “socks” on their Holiday Helper needs list, she decided to do something about it.
Weaver spearheaded the first SOCKtober last year to collect and distribute hundreds of donated socks to benefit local kids taking part in the University’s Holiday Helper program.
The Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) is hosting its second annual SOCKtober this month. All sizes and all styles of socks are needed, infant through adult. There is a particularly high need for athletic socks.
Donations of new, in-package socks can be dropped off at two campus locations throughout the month of October including the Center for Civic Engagement (300 W. North St., Normal) and the Student Fitness Center (347 S. University St., Normal).
Last year, there were around 330 children enrolled in the Holiday Helper program. Weaver engaged various campus units and partnered with the College Panhellenic Council to promote sock donations.
“My goal was for every kid to get one pair of socks,” said Weaver, CCE’s assistant director for co-curricular programs. “It was amazing; the amount of socks that people brought in.”
CCE collected six to eight pairs of socks per child, greatly exceeding the original goal of collecting one pair per child. This year, Weaver has increased her personal goal.
“It would be amazing to surpass our collection from last year, and we can make that happen,” she said.
New this year, Weaver is launching “Fun Sock Friday” and encourages Illinois State faculty and staff to wear fun and funky socks on Fridays, take pictures of the socks, and tag the Center for Civic Engagement on social media to be featured and raise awareness for SOCKtober.
“This is just a way for me to ensure that a need is being met,” said Weaver.
