The second annual Sock Granny campaign is on at the Maple Ridge Seniors Village.
Residents, family members and staff at the facility collect socks and toques for those in need in the community.
There are 91 residents in the independent living and assisted living quarters plus 108 people living in residential care that are all taking part in the campaign.
“Our residents like being a part of this. They like being involved in the community. So a lot of them will just go and buy packages of brand new socks and just support that way,” said Lindsay Zylstra, marketing manager with Maple Ridge Seniors Village.
The Sock Granny campaign first started at a sister Retirement Concepts residence in Vancouver by senior Barbara Vance. She initially started the campaign to support a non-profit organization that supports people with mental illness called the MPA Society. When a representative from the society told her a way to support them could be donating a pair of socks from her dresser, she started collecting them, collecting 400 pairs her first year.
Last year 150 socks and toques were collected by those through Maple Ridge Seniors Village.
“This year it looks like three bags in my office right now and we’ve still got some throughout the community, bags I haven’t collected in my office yet,” said Zylstra.
In addition the knitting club at the seniors residence also contributes.
The club is made up of four people who knit all year long but start focusing on the campaign at the beginning of November along with one other volunteer.
They have already finished around ten pieces.
“They are all very fortunate that they live here and they have socks for their feet. But they recognize that other people don’t. So they always step up and donate so it’s fantastic,” said Zylstra.
All donations will be going to The Salvation Army Ridge Meadows Ministries, which representatives from the village will be dropping off at 3 p.m. on Dec. 18.
“They really like chances to donate and be in involved in things like this,” added Zylstra about the residents.
“Anytime we have fundraisers they are always more than willing to participate. So, this is just another example of how they help out their community.”
Donations will be accepted at the front desk at Maple Ridge Seniors Village, 22141 119 Ave., until 5 p.m. on Dec. 17.