WHY SOCKS?
The Focus of Our Efforts
Recognizing the enormity of the challenges our society faces, Toasty Toes Nonprofit Organization is dedicated to making a lasting impact through our donations. While our efforts are driven by our organization’s singular focus, we spread a wide net by investing in a variety of progressive strategies. Learn more about our initiatives and get involved yourself.
LACK OF DONATIONS
New socks are the most rare item to be donated to less fortunate and homeless
Through our Support Services, we have the potential to make a real and positive change in the community. This is one of our key areas of focus here at Toasty Toes Nonprofit Organization. People usually donate their old clothes once it is worn out or out of style, but what do they do with their socks? They usually throw them away because they've been worn out. We do not want any person to be sad when they ask for clothing donations at a shelter and do not receive any socks. What we do want is to be able to provide homeless with new socks to keep their TOASTY TOES warm.
EDUCATION & OUTREACH
New socks are the number one needed clothing article
Most of our efforts pertaining to this organization involve studying new approaches and developing innovative ways to implement successful ideas to get our message across. Surveys have been held around our community about the clothing needs of of homeless, and socks came out as the most requested and most needed in shelters,
HEALTH PROBLEMS
Tackling the Issue
ENVIRONMENTAL:
Have you ever had frostbite? Did you know that severe frostbite leads to amputation? Well, socks provide a layer of warmth, which help reduce the toes being damaged by the cold weather.
INFECTIOUS:
Tinea Pedis / Athletes Foot: This is a fungal infection of the skin caused by vascular or small blister formation between the toes or small circular dry areas which cover the entire bottom of the foot. Fungus likes warm, moist, dark places. Which is why homeless need new socks to replace the old moldy ones. Clean socks decrease the amount of contact with the organism, and also create a dry layer to the skin which slows down the fungus to spread. T-Pedis causes itchiness and burning on the feet. Once the foot is dry, it can open up and the skin can get a bacterial infection.
Plantar Warts: These are caused by a virus. It is seen to be believed that the virus can enter the skin through an area of trauma like walking barefoot with no socks or shoes. Callous are a result of this virus. The warts will eventually multiply and become painful to walk.
Onychomycosis: This is the nail manifestation of the same fungal infection. The most common type categories of the four are: thickness and dystrophy of the nail. The thickness of the nail can be painful, which will lead to an ingrown nail and breaks down the surrounding skin.
MECHANICAL:
Boney prominences like bunions, pedal exostosis, and hammertoes become irritated by friction. Socks reduce that fiction between the foot and shoe. Without the cushion of the sock, the friction can lead to thickened skin. Eventually, it can feel like walking with a rock in your shoe.
Polyneuropathy: Is when you lose nerve function and cannot feel irritations on the feet. Many homeless have this condition. This thickened skin can lead to an ulcer. These ulcers can become infected, which will lead to skin infection, blood poisoning, or deep bone infections. Most of the bone infections are cured by amputations, that is why we see many of the homeless population suffering from this kind of result.
SOCIAL:
The Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners published the results of a surgery of the utilization of foot care services among homeless adults. The results showed “An overwhelming number of respondents (n=62) felt that the embarrassment associated with the smell of feet and the poor condition of their shoes and socks were deterrents in using available foot care services. One individual’s response to who can use the foot care services was “those who are willing to be embarrassed!”” By not using foot health care services the homeless don't receive preventative foot care. Providing NEW socks helps those in need to get one step closer to the health care they need.
By: Susan Papp-Mlodzienski, DPM, FACFAS. May 22, 2012