Victoria Cool Aid Society to launch 10,000 socks campaign for those in need this winter

In order to assure all of those in need have clean and dry feet through the winter months, the Victoria Cool Aid Society is launching a campaign to buy 10,000 pairs of socks. 

Beginning on November 1st, Cool Aid, in partnership with Kia Victoria, will be raising money to buy these socks for the city’s unhoused community. 

They say that for people who are unhoused or precariously housed, clean, dry shoes and socks can make the difference between survival and succumbing to health conditions that are exacerbated by wet, cold feet. 

This will be the 18th consecutive year that Cool Aid is running the campaign which was started in 2006. 

Once purchased, the socks will be distributed by over 20 organizations throughout Southern Vancouver Island, and Cool Aid says they are desperately needed. 

“More people than ever are living outdoors and often they never go inside,” said Kellie Guarasci, clinical nurse lead for Cool Aid. 

“And the majority of those people are wearing old shoes that are not at all warm or waterproof.”

Guarasci added that many people living outdoors who wear their shoes day and night don’t have the luxury of taking their shoes off for several hours a day, which can cause not only discomfort but serious health concerns.

“We see lots of things when it comes to foot health,” Guarasci said. 

“Everything from needing help with basic maintenance, to sores and lesions that can become infected and even lead to amputation if not caught in time.”

Cool Aid is appealing to Victorians to commit to the small act of donating so that someone with soaked feet can have a clean pair of socks. 

Over the years, this campaign has distributed 142,520 pairs of socks, worth close to $600,000.

Cool Aid is able to purchase these socks at a discount from Perri’s Socks and shipping for the socks is donated by La-Z-Boy Victoria. 

In 2020, Cool Aid says that Kia Victoria joined the effort by matching $5,000 during the campaign. Because of this matching program, Cool Aid can buy even more socks.

“This is one of our charity campaigns that we look forward to most,” said Bethan Osterman of Kia Victoria. 

“It is incredible to witness how such a small gesture can make such a giant difference to those in need. We’re so happy to be a part of it for the fifth year in a row.”

This year’s campaign will run until November 30. 

Donations can be made through Cool Aid’s ‘greatest need’ webpage, by calling (250) 383-1977 or in-person at Kia Victoria beginning November 1st.

Cool Aid helps more than 12,000 unhoused or precariously housed individuals in the region every year, which includes over 7,000 Community Health Centre patients.