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Support Socktober by bringing in new socks to the bins located around UVA Health café locations between Oct. 3 and Oct. 31 to support those in need in the Charlottesville community.

Last year, team members donated more than 3,100 pairs of socks, which went to local organizations that help the homeless. Clean socks are the top-requested yet least donated item at homeless shelters. Living on the street, many unsheltered individuals rarely take their shoes off, walk often, and don’t always have access to laundry facilities. Socktober’s mission is to keep feet warm, dry, and clean in local communities. Morrison Healthcare, UVA Health’s dining vendor, brought Socktober to Charlottesville for the first time in 2021.

How to Donate

Bins for socks will be stationed at the cafés in the following locations: University Hospital Cafeteria, Wahoo West Café, the OR waiting room, Emily Couric Clinical Cancer Center, Orthopedic Center at Ivy Road, and Fontaine starting Monday, Oct. 3. The deadline for donations will be Monday, Oct. 31.

For donations to count towards your department for a prize, please give donations directly to the retail manager or supervisor on duty so they can be counted properly.

At the end of the drive, socks collected in the cafés will be donated to The Salvation Army.

Prizes

The goal for Socktober is 5,000 pairs of socks, and the three departments that donate the most pairs will receive a prize to celebrate their generosity:

1. First place: Pizza party with drinks, ice cream social, a snack basket, and special reward to be announced
2. Second place: Pizza party, ice cream social, and snack basket
3. Third place: Ice cream social and snack basket

Printables

A sock tracker and horizontal and vertical graphics are available to print and hang or share electronically to promote Socktober in your area.

Questions? Contact Chadwick French, Director of Retail, at cf4cp@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu.

Good luck and thank you for your donation!