Connect

Stepping up to meet a 10-year strategic plan goal of cultivating healthy communities and belonging for all — UVA Health kicks off its annual Socktober initiative in October 2026 from Charlottesville to Northern Virginia!

University Medical Center

This year's goal at University Medical Center: collecting 20,000 new pairs for unhoused individuals in the Charlottesville area.

“Socktober is a simple way for our team members to make a meaningful difference in the lives of our neighbors," says Jennifer Snyder, Director of Retail, UVA Health University Medical Center and Morrison Healthcare. "A new pair of socks may seem small — but it provides comfort, dignity, and warmth to someone facing difficult circumstances. I'm excited to see UVA Health come together once again to support our community!"

From Oct. 1 through Nov. 2, team members can drop off new pairs of socks in Socktober bins at:  

• Cafe at 500 Fontaine  
• Emily Couric Clinical Cancer Center  
• Food and Nutrition Services ("0" level, University Hospital)  
• Good Grain Cafe, Orthopedic Center at Ivy Road  
• OR Cafe Lounge  
• University Hospital Cafeteria   
• Wahoo West Café   

Join This Year’s Challenges!

• Battle of the Bins: Knock the Socks Off the Competition! | Departments across UVA Health University Medical Center are competing to collect the most new pairs of socks during Socktober 2026. 
• Most Socks Collected Overall | The department with the highest total number of donated socks. 
• Spirit Award | Best Socktober promotion, decorations, photos, or team engagement! 
• Most Socks Per Team Member | Levels the playing field for departments of all sizes. 

Help spread the word! Print and hang, or share electronically, a fun sock tracker and horizontal and vertical graphics. Questions? Contact Jennifer Snyder, Director of Retail. 

UVA Community Health

"We’re excited to collect and donate socks to the homeless shelters in our community," says Thecla McPhee, Director, Food and Nutrition Services. "Socks are the most needed but least donated item for homeless shelters and as we head into the colder winter months, the need only increases."

From Oct. 1-31, drop off new socks in donation boxes in the cafeterias of Culpeper, Haymarket, and Prince William Medical Centers. At Prince William Medical Center: ICCU, Med Surg, CDU, Cultural Ambassadors, Nursing Superviors Office, Case Management and Behavioral Health. You'll also find smaller donation boxes on some Prince William Medical Center nursing units.

The hospitals also are partnering with the following community centers at these donation drop-off locations:

• Culpeper Medical Center + Culpeper Baptist Church at 318 West St., Culpeper, VA 22701
• Haymarket Medical Center + SERVE Family Shelter at 10056 Dean Drive, Manassas, VA 20110
• Prince William Medical Center + SERVE Family Shelter at 10056 Dean Drive, Manassas, VA 20110