A "Socktober" event in Parksville Qualicum Beach was a big success and netted close to 800 pairs of socks for Manna Homeless Society to give to unhoused people.
The Anglican Parish of St. Mark collected socks over the month of October and concluded with 701 pairs brought in on Nov. 9. The church also gathered six pairs of runners, six pairs of gloves and two hoodies, according to a news release.
Donations were collected at drop off points in Parksville and Qualicum Beach that included: St. Mark's Anglican Church, St. Stephen's United Church, Christian Fellowship Centre, Our Saviour Lutheran Church, St. Anne and St. Edmund Anglican Church, Catholic Church of the Ascension, the Old School House Arts Centre, Cloverdale Paint, Suds and Duds Laundry, Seventh Day Adventist Church, Berwick and Royal Bank of Canada.
Persistent wet feet can create serious health problems and a warm pair of socks on cold wet feet can make a difference for an unhoused person.
Socktober started in 2011 when Brad Montague wanted to do something for the large unhoused population in his hometown. He started with short videos of him donating socks to shelters and produced a Socktober rap. Since then the event has become popular and spread across the world.
