SOCK – Saving Our Community with Kindness was formed out of a strong desire to do some good in our communities. One way is to make sure people have socks on feet.
Jayson Nichols worked a charity event several years ago. It was here he saw folks in need of socks. The following year he collected socks to take to that event and distribute. Dana Jones saw his posts and thought it was a perfect act of kindness and collected for his cause. The two have collected socks from family and friends since then, donating to various events and charitable organizations, including domestic violence shelters, homeless shelters, and even directly to people in need. It became a passion. The two love socks and appreciate the luxury of having lots of fun, warm foot warmers. Not everyone is so lucky.
An annual event hosted by Fil Choulmarountry was scheduled for January 2019, and Fil mentioned he’d like to have it benefit a charity. Sock donations were a “perfect fit” (groan) and so it was billed as “Fil’s 4th Annual Sausage Party with the theme Socks and Sides”. The turnout was unbelievably great and the socks poured in. There were sponsors interested in donating to the charity….but it wasn’t technically a 501c3 charity, so no receipts for tax deductions could be given. All the socks and monies donated landed where they were supposed to go. What a wonderful event is was! The promises of those attending pointed toward the next year’s event being bigger and better!
After a lot of discussion and research, the Fall of 2019 saw the formation of SOCK – Saving Our Community with Kindness. Nine board members, all volunteers – Dana Jones, Fil Choulmarountry, Andy Jones, Paul Ives, Jayson Nichols, Ian Dickson, Shelly Joyner, Robyn May and Sarah Jones – agreed to sign on. Thanks to Attorney Shelly Joyner, the paperwork is in progress to receive designation as a 501c3. Our goal is to provide socks to those who need them, and maybe help with other needs as we go!!