Brentwood Presbyterian Church is in need of socks.
The Burnaby church is collecting socks for its second annual Socks for Souls campaign, which benefits Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside neighbourhood. The hope is to collect 500 more pairs in order to reach this year’s goal of 2,500.
“They don’t have to be new. We prefer that you wash them before you drop them off at the church. The warmer the sock the better,” said Minister Brian Fraser.
Twice a year – once in the summer and once around Christmas – the socks are taken to First United Church on East Hastings Street. On a weekly basis, volunteers at that church offer Downtown Eastside residents foot baths with warm water, soothing salts and essential oils. Then they’re given clean, dry socks.
“Just seeing their face. These volunteers are washing their feet. They aren’t always clean, pretty feet. There’s just his kind of calm that comes over them and huge appreciation,” Fraser said.
Donations to Brentwood’s sock program can be dropped off at the church, located at 1600 Delta Ave. There’s a sock pail on the porch.
