Socks are such a basic—and often overlooked—necessity. In the scale of everything we do, this humble item may not get much attention. But every October, The Sharing Shelf shines a spotlight on socks and the important role they play in helping children and teens feel comfortable, cared for, and ready for the season.
Every child and teen we serve receives 5 pairs of brand-new, seasonally appropriate socks.
In 2025, we served 8,540 children and teens.
That means we needed an incredible 42,700 pairs of socks! Yes – you read that right.
And this year, the number of children and teens we serve continues to grow, which means our need for socks is growing too. We estimate that this year, we will need at least 50,000 pairs.
You help us reach every child and help keep them warm and feeling good.
Because sometimes, making a difference starts with something as simple as a pair of socks. 🩵🧦
Want to help? Celebrate October by starting a Sock Drive!
Here are a few tips:
Collect new socks only. For dignity and comfort, we accept and distribute only new socks, so please emphasize this in your collection language.
Think athletic. Socks should be wearable, useable and comfortable! The children and teens we serve prefer athletic styles that fit comfortably in sneakers, such as crew, ankle, or no-show socks in solid or simple colors.
Don’t forget the babies and toddlers! Tiny sizes are among the hardest to collect, so ask donors to include a infant and toddler pairs.
Questions? Contact us at info@sharingshelf.org
