One Small Way to Make a Big Difference

So easy even Grover can do it.

Back in 2011, in a small Tennessee town, we had an idea.

I was working with young people and kept noticing something about them:

they can survive an entire day on one bag of Hot Cheetos and a Gatorade the size of their torso.

I also noticed this:

they met the world’s challenges with love, hope, and joy. Lots of joy. Lots of hope. Lots of creativity.

One group of students really really wanted to help people in need. Their energy and their kind (but steady) nagging nudged me to look closer at our own community shelters. I quickly realized how little I actually knew.

I learned how many people were being served by our shelters every single day. (A lot.)

I learned that socks (of all things) were one of the most-needed but least-donated items. (Apparently this is often true of many shelters.) I also learned that as fall turned to winter, it can get dangerous for our neighbors in need. A simple pair of new socks can become a real starting place for creating connection, protection, and long-term support.

So in October of that year, in our small Tennessee neighborhood, we began collecting socks.

We called it Socktober.

It was small and simple, but sincere…

and we got to meet some great people doing good in our backyard.

Then something happened.

The next year, more people joined. Then more. Then even more.

Now there are Socktober drives each year in all 50 states and in places all over the world.

It’s been mentioned on Jeopardy.

Sesame Street even joined in the fun.

How did this happen?

Did we have a massive marketing budget? None.

A brilliant strategy session years in advance of launching? I wish. I don’t even know what I’m doing for lunch today.

The real reason: Kids.

Kids and people who care about kids are the difference makers.

Yes, along the way, companies have supported this. Yes, brands have partnered. But the most reliable, year after year, boots on the ground collecting and delivering real items to help real people?

Classrooms. Youth groups. After-school programs. Community libraries.

It surprises me each year when so many take part in this. Maybe it shouldn’t, but it does. I mean … there’s no prize. No big award. No special recognition.

It’s just a simple invitation to help.

Socktober is a continual reminder to me that there’s a world of people out there who care. People want to help. People want to make things around them better. Sometimes all it takes is a little reminder.

If you’d like to take part it’s very simple:

1. find your local shelter (you can do so here)

2. find out what your area needs right now

3. rally your community to meet that need

The Socktober website was created by a small crew of innovative teenagers. It’s always a work in progress. You can visit it here. Feel free to have any young people in your life send fresh flyers or ideas to us for inclusion there.

Kids have shown me that if we want to be world changers, it starts by being daymakers. Daymaking is a way of going through life trying to make the day of the people around you. Day by day, person by person, it adds up to a better world.

Thanks for making someone’s day today.

Happy Socktober!

1. STORY CONFERENCE is next week in Nashville! Only a few tickets remain. I’d love to see you there. Get your ticket here.

2. SOCK PUPPET CITY is something I feel like lots of you would love. In case you need a cool sock puppet for your Socktober campaign? Visit the store here.

3. HEY WEIRDO! is James Victore’s great new book. He’s been a super helpful friend and guide on my journey (and many other folks too) Check it out here.