Socks for Seniors project needs local volunteers

Socks for Seniors is a nonprofit community service project that organizes, collects and distributes new socks for seniors in communities all over the country.

Socks for Seniors and its volunteers have one priority this holiday season and that is to bring holiday cheer along with a pair of new socks to warm the hearts and cover the cold feet of our elderly seniors.

The Socks for Seniors program benefits those living alone and in nursing homes and even those seniors that are homeless.

The program began 15 years ago in Ohio, when Jamie Coyne was visiting senior communities doing a music therapy program. His wife, Kitty, would often go along and got to know many of the residents. One day she noticed a woman who wasn't in her usual good spirits. She told Kitty that her feet were freezing.

Kitty noticed the woman's socks were in bad shape, so she went out and bought her a warm pair of socks.

The Coynes saw that others in the senior community took notice and also wanted a pair of socks. During their next visit they took socks for everyone and Socks for Seniors was born.

"It grew slowly over several years as people would hear about it," said Coyne. "In 2011, I decided with some effort it could grow into a national program one area at a time."

Coyne says it takes one person, one box and one location to get started. There is no money involved. All that is collected is socks.

The goal is for socks to stay in the local community where they are collected. The drive will run through Christmas.

Those who would like to volunteer to coordinate in this area should visit www.socksforseniors.com.