The Office of Civic Engagement and Volunteerism’s “Socktober” will be ongoing throughout the month of October to help provide donations for One Stop’s Community Christmas. 

According to Eastern’s website, “Socktober” is a month when people can donate brand-new pairs of socks to families and children in need.

According to Eastern’s website, donation drop-off locations include the Civic Engagement and Volunteerism office in the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union, room 3065; outside the Human Resources office in Old Main, room 2020; and the homecoming parade.

Beth Gillespie, director of Civic Engagement and Volunteerism, said One Stop is a seven-county collaboration that aims to help struggling families during the holiday season. She said One Stop provides gift donations to families, such as toys, books and socks for example. One Stop also provides household necessities, such as diapers, toilet paper and cleaning products for example, she said.

“We are collecting socks throughout the month of October here at our office—brand-new socks, anywhere from newborn size all the way through adults, so that we can help ensure that every single kid gets a brand-new pair of socks as well.”

Gillespie said they will also be accepting sock donations at the Homecoming Parade for anyone who could not make it to the office beforehand.

She said the purpose of “Socktober” is to support One Stop’s Community Christmas in their effort to make the holidays better for families.

“Last year, (One Stop Community Christmas) had over 1,000 families, and in those 1,000 families were over 2,500 kids,” she said. “Each child needs a pair of socks, and so we’re wanting to support the group that is in charge of the sock table to help ensure that we can give every single family (socks) for a child.”

Gillespie said it is everyone’s responsibility to look out for those in the community who are struggling financially and help them.

She said any help at all makes a big difference in the lives of those who need it.

“Whether you’re giving a cash donation, you’re buying a pair of socks or you’re donating your time, you’re showing up and saying to the people we are serving, ‘You matter, and I’m here to make your life a little easier,’” she said.

Something Gillespie said she admires about “Socktober” and One Stop is witnessing the cycle of good-doing in action.

“Last year, a woman was at Wal-Mart buying 75 (board) games… (the cashier) said, ‘What is this for?’” Gillespie said. “The woman was talking about One Stop Community Christmas and how many individuals and how many kids it impacts, and the woman in line behind her tapped her on the shoulder and said, ‘I’m really sorry to interrupt, but last year I needed help’ … She started crying and said, ‘You have no idea how much (One Stop Community Christmas) made a difference to me and to my kids, and I’m in a better place now. Can I give you $10 to help pay for these games?’”

Logan Raschke can be reached at 581-2812 or at [email protected].