Cool Aid and Kia Victoria’s annual sock drive is aimed at helping people experiencing homelessness stay healthy this winter.

With the onset of winter, Cool Aid and Kia Victoria’s annual sock donation campaign aims to collect and distribute 10,000 pairs of socks to people living outdoors, who often struggle to keep their clothes clean and dry or find a safe place to store extra belongings. A clean pair of socks may seem like a small thing, but it can make a big difference to someone without a permanent home.

Kia Victoria is supporting the campaign and has promised to match donations up to $5,000, while Perri’s Socks is providing the socks at a substantial discount to help provide even more socks to those who need them. In the past two decades, the Socks for Survival campaign has distributed more than 180,000 pairs of socks, with a total value of more than $672,000.

Rebecca Young, a community health nurse with Cool Aid, says having clean clothes is something many people take for granted. People experiencing homelessness may go days or even weeks without access to showers, washrooms, or laundry facilities. She explains that even after receiving medical care, some people have no choice but to put their dirty, wet socks back on.

The campaign also gives Kia Victoria a chance to bring the community together and support people in need. Everyone deserves the comfort and dignity of having clean, dry socks, especially during the cold and rainy winter months. Through this campaign, the organizers hope to show how small acts of kindness can make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. Kia Victoria is also serving as a drop-off location and helping spread the word to customers, employees, and the wider community. People interested in helping can donate online at coolaid.org, call 250-414-4793, or donate in person at Kia Victoria.

Source: Megan Yamoah, CTV News