Arlington group helping domestic violence victims, homeless given over 5K pairs of socks
ARLINGTON, Va. (7News) — Socks are a basic clothing item that can be taken for granted – if you have them.
For victims of domestic violence and their families fleeing dangerous situations, packing socks isn’t a top priority.
That’s why the Nursing Professional Development Council at VHC Health decided to have a “Sock Hop” – not a dance party but a sock collection benefiting “Doorways,” an Arlington non-profit helping people out of homelessness, domestic violence and sexual assault.
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The goal was set at 1,940 pairs – 1940 was the year the Sock Hop started but the generous nurses and staff at VHC Health tripled that number. It’s the biggest sock donation the group has ever received.
“Sometimes we think about domestic violence we think about the adult survivor. The reality is many of our clients are under the age of 18,” said Diana Ortiz, President & CEO of Doorways.
The families will be able to look through the 5,800 pairs and pick which ones they’d like.
“I have three sons and I know that’s a big option in the morning: ‘Which socks am I going to wear? Which character and I putting on?’ Knowing that 50 percent of Doorways clients are kids, our staff made sure we had plenty of kids’ socks,” said Taryn Overman, Associate Vice President at VHC Health.
“Doorways” provides emergency shelters and apartments for women, men, trans and people who identify as non-binary. Domestic violence survivors’ pets are also welcome at their safe kennel.
