GEMMA WILL SOCK IT TO THEM!
A UNIQUE idea to help homeless people has created a ‘brilliant response’ from people in Leek and all across the Staffordshire Moorlands.
In mid November mother of four, Gemma Iliff, first saw the appeal on the Help for the Homeless CIC Facebook page, who are based in Chell Heath, and decided to take part by filling a pair of socks with items to help people.
She then put the idea on Facebook and also through an appeal in the Post & Times for people to fill the socks with gifts for the homeless.
Some of the items recommended to fill the socks were toothbrush and toothpaste; roll on deodorant; sweets and chocolate; comb; hand sanitiser; gloves; hand warmer and sanitary items if for a female.
The idea quickly took off and last week a collection of 572 pairs of sock were delivered to Help the Homeless in Chell.
Gemma said: “When I saw the idea I just thought I would fill a pair of socks with different items. I then thought it was such a good idea that I would spread it around some friends and it really took off.
“Another local parent Matt Wall helped me to run a Facebook page entitled Fill a Sock Appeal and then we started to get the information out.
“You just needed a pair of new adult socks, long ones were the best and fill either one or both with items, if people filled both socks then they had to be tied together, if only one sock, they had to remember to put the other sock in and label either male or female.
“I thought this was something different and would help people in need this Christmas. We are thrilled with the response.”
Matt Wall of the Old Smithy Tattoo Parlour in Smithfield Centre, Leek has used his premises as one of the collection points.
He said: “In total we collected 572 pairs of socks which were donated by the good folks of Leek and Staffs Moorlands. The response has been fantastic from childminders making them with the children, to local businesses, Young Farmers, and members of the Labour Party, even a local medical centre had their patients making them.
“A big thanks must also go to all the collection points that collected socks for us.
“We simply can’t believe it. It is a simple but genius idea.
“Once we had all the socks collected we headed down to the Church of the Saviour in Chell Heath where the Help for the Homeless CIC are based to hand over all socks which were greatly received.
“They were then distributed to the homeless in time for Christmas.”