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David the homeless man started to cry.In order for the ER doctor to examine him, he needed to get undressed. With some coaxing, he undressed, explaining that removing his layers of Michigan winter clothing made him feel vulnerable.
He hesitated when I assisted him in taking off his socks, and once they were removed, I knew why. The socks were smelly, wet, and had not been changed in months. David also had a severe case of trench foot.
With soap and a pan of warm water I washed David's feet, recalling in my mind the biblical meaning of washing another feet. It was then I got the idea to start a Sock Ministry. Christmas was coming, and we encouraged people who received socks (again) for Christmas, to donate them to the Emergency Room. Within a few weeks we had hundreds of pairs of new socks. Word spread throughout the homeless population, and soon we had many homeless men and women coming to the ER for a new pair of socks.
One day, a patient visitor approached me in the ER.
"Are you that nurse that started that Sock Ministry?" she asked.
"Yes," I replied, "I was that nurse."
"I wanted to tell you that yesterday, I was standing outside of the pharmacy and I noticed this homeless guy because he had on a new pair of bright white socks, but he had no shoes on and was standing in the snow! He told me he got the socks from the Emergency Room at the hospital, and that's when I remembered I had a new pair of boots in the trunk of my car that I was returning to the store for my son. I got the boots out of the trunk and guess what? They fit him perfectly!"
For me, starting the sock ministry was simply a small way to fill a need, but her story of a serendipitous event makes it feel like the beginning of a few miracles.
5209 Reads
- Posted by stephanie_pennin
- Sep 16, 2013
- Comments (18)
Readers Comments
Anne wrote: I am part of a women's group that has been talking about doing this! Any and all practical advice would be enormously appreciated!
Gari Thomas wrote: I too am in the medical field and work at a hospital in a major city. I too am starting a sock ministry. Did you require only new socks? Cotton? What were your requirements?
r7aranita wrote: Thank you stephanie for starting a worthwhile cause and for reaching out to those in need. It brought back fond christmas memories. My brother's received a bunch of socks every year from a dear old aunt.
AK wrote: You are simply awesome! So thoughtful, loving. Generous. You made us realize that its the small things that people actually need that matter.
amneaves wrote: Beautiful! I love that you were present to that situation with the houseless man, and because you really showed up with kindness and care, that idea was born to give socks to people who are houseless (a term some use to change/challenge the idea that people who have no living structure are without a home) thank you for being receptive and for being in the world in this way.
Tanja wrote: So simple and direct, your act of kindness, and yet it started with the willingness to do something positive in one small area. I am inspired by this, it gave me goosebumps all over!
Aurelia wrote: What a great story and an inspiration to us all. Something a small as giving a pair of socks away can ripple into such heartwarming story. Thank you all for helping the homeless. No act of kindness is ever too small :0) ~aurelia
lesley.campbell wrote: Thank you for sharing your act of kindness what a great thing to do. I am currently making hats for the homeless and crocheting blankets but will also think about giving socks as well.
peacehunter wrote: Your kindness ripple made a wave xo
eckyssister wrote: Thankful for warm pigs!
