With cold weather having settled in as the fall gives way to the winter months, a local effort – known as Socktober – met with resounding success this year.
“I started this sock drive about nine years ago with Stanislaus County Community Services Agency and I brought it to the City of Oakdale three years ago along with the help and support of the Oakdale Sunrise Rotary,” said coordinator Diana Guerrero-Garcia. “This year we were able to exceed our goal and I’m proud to announce we collected over 2,600 pairs of socks. We had amazing help from some of our local schools, businesses in town and our always giving residents.”
The drive ran the entire month of October and there were collection bins for socks at the Oakdale Chamber of Commerce, City Hall, Public Works Yard, Pak Mail, Western Prime, Astro Thrift Shop, 1Oak Health Club, Fair Oaks Elementary, Oakdale Charter School, and Oakdale Junior High School.
“We collected new socks for men, women and children,” noted Guerrero-Garcia.
She also said her daughter, who attends Oakdale Junior High, had help from Mrs. Torres, and their combined efforts brought in 800 pairs of socks for the drive.
“Our lovely Mayor, Cher Bairos, set up a collection bin at the Chamber of Commerce and promoted our sock drive on social media and they brought in over 200 pairs,” Guerrero-Garcia said. “I am beyond proud of the efforts of our little community coming together to help with this sock drive.”
The “donation pick up day” was hosted the week of Thanksgiving, at the Chamber of Commerce office, on Nov. 20 at noon. A representative from each of the agencies receiving donations was on hand for the presentation.
According to Guerrero-Garcia, the groups receiving them and the pairs of socks donated were: Love Stanislaus County – Senior Comfort Kits, 650; Oakdale Rescue Mission, 650; Family Support Network – Promotoras, 650 (children’s socks included); Center for Human Services, 650 (children’s socks included).
Some of the agencies had received sock donations in past years and asked to be included in the Socktober program once again.
“My hope is to continue to promote and hold the Socktober sock drive here in Oakdale for years to come,” said Guerrero-Garcia. “It’s an easy and fun way to give back to our community. All of the socks donated will be going to a good cause and will be given to those in need.”
