By KRISTI MAYFIELD
The collection effort is still on, as Socktober is in full swing.
Socktober is an event that began almost a decade ago when Diana Guerrero-Garcia, a City of Oakdale employee and Sunrise Rotary President, decided to start asking her friends and community members to donate socks in preparation for the holiday season. Socks are among the most requested items in shelters for those in need, she explained.
“Everyone needs socks and you can buy them anywhere,” said Guerrero-Garcia.
During last year’s campaign, more than 2,800 pairs of socks were donated and they are hoping to top that number this year by gathering more than 3,000 pairs of socks.
Socktober has definitely become a family affair with Guerrero-Garcia’s daughter, Isabella Garcia, reaching out to her peers at Oakdale Junior High School to ask them to join the campaign. Last year, Isabella and her fellow students donated more than 900 pairs of socks to the sock drive and they are aiming for 1,000 pairs of socks this year. For Isabella, this is an event that means a lot to her and her family and she has been a part of the process from the beginning, whether it was distributing donation bins or illustrating the flyers that have been posted stating the details of the event.
Local teachers have taken an interest as well with one teacher at Oakdale Junior High even promising a pizza party to the class that donates the most socks. The teacher participated in the event last year and wants to help the students exceed their donation goals this year.
Donated socks will be shared with the following organizations so that they can be included in their care packages: Blue Star Moms, Oakdale Rescue Mission, Center for Human Services and Love Stanislaus County-for Senior Care Packages (APS/IHSS) along with many other local groups. Donations can be dropped off at the following locations: Oakdale Chamber of Commerce, Oakdale City Hall, Public Works Corporation Yard, Pak Mail, Western Prime, Astro Thrift Shop, 1 Oak Health Club, Gilton Solid Waste Management, Fair Oaks Elementary, Oakdale Junior High, Oakdale Charter School and Cocina Michoacana.
While the month of ‘Socktober’ is ongoing, Guerrero-Garcia said they encourage those who want to have some extra fun to take park in Fun Sock Fridays, which are coming up on the following days: Oct. 4, Cartoon Socks; Oct. 11, Food Socks; Oct. 18, Animal Print Socks; and finally, Oct. 25, Holiday Socks. If you wear your fun themed socks, Guerrero-Garcia asks that you take some photos and share them by sending them to: SOCKTOBER95361@gmail.com
