Sock Drive for the Homeless Gets Big Donation With SPH Help.

Nate Fox, son of Jane Fox, a project director at the Health and Disability Working Group at SPH, collected 2,138 pairs of socks plus a $200 donation for Boston Health Care for the Homeless.

SPH has had a long history of participating in the annual sock drive for Boston Health Care for the Homeless, which distributes new white socks to its clients to reduce the incidence of foot ailments such as trench foot, skin infections, frostbite, and nail diseases.

“I wanted to do a community service project for school, but I thought I might as well do something good for other people while I was at it,” Nate said.

Fox said her son was required to do 10 hours of community service during the school year as part of a town-wide requirement for sixth-graders. “He could have worked at a food pantry, or other great projects, but he chose to create his own,” she said.

Nate ended up earning 25 community service hours by designing a flyer and creating a Facebook page that was widely shared among family and friends and their extended networks, including some here at SPH. Nate’s appeal went nationwide, and he received donations from friends and family in Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Texas, North Dakota, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, Ohio, Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts.

The drive started just after Thanksgiving and lasted about six weeks, so that the warm socks could be collected and delivered to Boston Health Care for the Homeless during the height of winter. He made the delivery on January 16—his 12th birthday—helped by family, friends, and several SPH staff members.

“I think I want to do it again next year, but maybe get it into the school system a bit more,” Nate said. “We might reach out to more local companies, too.”

Nate also solicited donations from several local businesses; Converse, based in Massachusetts, donated 444 pairs of socks. Boston Health Care for the Homeless may also expand the current drive, which is widely supported by the Red Sox and other local business.

For more than a decade, the organization has collected clean socks for its clients, many of whom have limited access to shoes and socks. Many homeless people endure rain-soaked feet, ill-fitting shoes, constant standing, and diseases like diabetes—all of which can contribute to additional health problems.