Trench Foot
I went to the First World War battlefields and cemeteries in 2012, and I walked The Somme Battlefield sites at the end of September. I constantly think about the brave Tommies of the trenches and then how being homeless must feel a bit like that (without the gunfire, of course, but not without danger).
In earlier blogs I discussed why socks are important to homeless people and the term 'trench foot' was used. Trench foot is a very serious condition and a real concern for homeless people in the 21st century!
BBC news recently said that: "Foot problems are one of the greatest sources of infection amongst the homeless as they are almost constantly on their feet, often wear inappropriate footwear, and rarely wash their feet or cut their toe nails."
Now initially I ran Socks and Chocs from September to Christmas so that we could deliver the stuff at Christmas. Since then, however, we have gone all year round. That said, we are now at September again and this last part of the year is the bit we call 'The Big Push'. Yet another Great War term which I hope nobody minds us using for our Christmas campaign.
So many people ask me: "What can I do to help?" Well, many ideas are posted on our Facebook page so have a look there, but here are a few ideas:
1. For your birthday ask friends and family to buy you socks up to the value of what they would have spent on you. Then donate them to a homeless centre near you.
2. Do the same as (1) but at Christmas.
3. This is one I would like people to do this year. Apparently 1.7 billion Christmas cards are sent each year. I will let you do the maths. Many of these are sent to colleagues in the workplace. Then in January they are thrown away! Why not set up a scheme with your colleagues whereby you just send each other a pair of socks.
You can still write your seasonal greetings on the label and pin on a board. Then in January you can donate to us or straight to homeless centres near you.
This exact concept is explained in the Socks and Chocs September update video.
4. Hold an event whereby the entrance fee is a pair of socks.
5. Encourage your child's school to hold a collection.
6. Publicise this blog and Socks and Chocs everywhere. Tweet about Socks and Chocs @socksandchocs
That's about it for this entry so feel free to get in touch socksandchocs@yahoo.co.uk.
"Lots of people doing a little is better than a few doing a lot!"
