Tom Costello- Chief Sock Person- has done a great job bringing attention to an important and often unnoticed need. People experiencing homelessness often do not have access to clean, dry socks. And without socks people are more prone to develop foot problems that could be prevented... if only they had access to clean socks. The Joy of Sox has raised awareness, while collecting and distributing likely tens of thousand of socks at this point. This with little funding and an all-volunteer staff.
The Joy of Sox has grown and prospered over the past 10 years under the leadership of Executive Director, Tom Costello. He and his volunteers are committed to supporting the organization's mission: to bring joy to those experiencing homelessness by giving them socks.
I chose to volunteer after listening to Tom speak to a group of middle school students about how important clean socks are to people living on the streets. His message was well-received. The students suggested that we conduct a school-wide sock drive which became a yearly event.
The Joy of Sox helps people who are experiencing homelessness by providing them with socks. This significant gesture helps people stay healthy.
The Joy of Sox reaches communities nationally, and has a goal of global outreach.
It is my great privilege and pleasure to be associated with this organization.
Nancy H.
We’ve only been involved with Joy is Sox for a short time but we are so excited to be a part of this awesome organization. They are so committed to collecting and distributing socks to the homeless and those in need. We’re learning so much about how important socks are to keeping feet healthy and dry. What a great organization!
The Joy of Sox is a wonderful and caring group of folks who have made it their mission to provide socks for those experiencing homelessness, especially in the bleakest of weather conditions. With socks being the number one needed and least donated item at shelters, the Joy of Sox has stepped in to be sure that no toes are left cold and wet. They do it with the help of a wonderful community and many schools that dedicate their time to sock drives and fundraising. Keep up the good work, Joy of Sox! Support this cause, if you can!
Fantastic organization, they are very organized and are dedicated to serving our neighbors experiencing homelessness. Every time our company has a sock drive it’s a hit! Here’s some photos of our team dropping off socks from our most recent drive.
A unique and special organization that truly cares about those in need. Highly recommend checking out the attached video.
The Joy of Sox is providing new socks to those experiencing homelessness since socks are the most requested item at shelters. I have helped deliver socks and spent time helping their mission.
TJOS is a wonderful local organization that uses the power of community to crowd source a powerful and underestimated resource - socks - for homeless and underprivileged people.
This nonprofit is run by wonderful people with a simple mission. They provide new socks for homeless people who desperately need them.
The Joy of Sox is an awesome all volunteer organization that works hard to help those in need. Our work is to provide new socks to those experiencing homelessness. When you hear that "socks can be more important than food" to some people it really makes an impact. Such a simple item that is often taken for granted can be critical for others.
The Joy of Sox is a wonderful nonprofit that I am proud to be apart of. They are truly making a difference in society and I cannot wait to see what they do in the future!
Volunteering for The Joy of Sox has been a very fulfilling experience. By delivering socks to many shelters, food pantries, clinics and other organizations I have seen first hand the positive impact we can have. By having sock drives at schools we are helping our children make a positive impact to society. Both volunteers, donors and our clients receive joy through socks.
One of the most meaningful experiences I have had assisting those experiencing homelessness. Highly recommend!
This is the first time I get to actually work with people that I can see need the help. It's a great feeling. Looking to do more for my fellow humans occupying this planet.
Hats off to Tom, Nancy and the Joy of Sox network connecting all of us through work that touches so many across the region and worldwide! What a privilege it is to support your outstanding work! Looking forward to making a difference with you in the coming year!! :)
A modest donation to The Joy of Sox enabled this daughter to warm the heart of her (cranky) 80 yr old dad who has ‘a thing’ for socks. Dad doesn’t want or need anything (lucky him!). In 2014, I was inspired by The Joy of Sox & for Dad’s birthday made a modest donation for a year of new socks to a person in need in honor of my dad. Dad got a thoughtful acknowledgement from Chief Sox Elf, Tom Costello which warmed his heart and lit up his smile. A simple pair of new socks brings 2 very different people together with a common bond.
Thanks Joy of Sox for all you do!!
Our Cabrini University Residence Life team was overjoyed with our experience serving The Joy of Sox. Not only did 30 students and 6 professional staff have fun, but we all left knowing we had made a significant and meaningful contribution to this organization and those it serves. The Chief Sock Guy Tom came to campus earlier in the day to give an orientation to the volunteers - this really helped set the tone for the work we did later that day. I have since chosen to remain involved with The Joy of Sox because I believe in its mission and vision. I am inspired by Tom and those already involved. Kudos to The Joy of Sox!!
My neighbor is a Prince of Sox. He introduced me to this great organization. While I don't have the financial resources to be as generous as I wish I could be, when I do get a little to spare, I get some socks for the cause.
I am blessed to know about the Joy of Sox. They provide a necessary and important item for the homeless. They are wonderful people. Thank you for helping those in need. God bless you and the people you help.
A great organization that fulfills such an important need! Our company looks forward to more opportunities to help this organization grow. Tom Costello and his team are amazing, thank you for doing what you do!
Thank you Joy of Sox for your continued socks donation to Charity Crossing, Year after year, your socks donations is helping many less fortunate people in the state of Delaware to stay warm during the cold weather.
I am proud for the opportunity to volunteer with this wonderful organization. The Joy of Sox not only collects and gives socks to the homeless but also educates the public on this (often unknown) need. Tom, the founder and Chief Sock Person, is such a passionate advocate for the homeless. Keep up the great work!
I am proud to be a volunteer for The Joy of Sox. It is amazing how such a simple item as a new pair of socks is one of the most requested items and can make such a difference for someone experiencing homelessness. Being able to hand someone in need some new socks gives both the recipient and me JOY!
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When I first read about the Joy of Sox I was so surprised that such a simple item as a pair of socks could make such an impact in the lives of the homeless. I am happy to be a volunteer for such an amazing organization that is providing such a valuable need to help so many. The Joy of Sox website provides all the tools for anyone to get involved in many ways. I especially like that children can get involved and understand the importance of this mission. What a great way for them to learn at a young age that they can make a difference in someone's life.
Everything about The Joy of Sox works to uphold the dignity of every person, especially those experiencing homelessness, which is something this world needs. Something as simple as a new pair of sox can make someone feel whole again, and a charity dedicated to filling that need definitely deserves 5 stars.
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I love the Joy of Sox! They are so committed to their process of sharing socks with those experiencing homelessness and spreading the word about the need. Before meeting The Joy of Sox, I had never considered the lack of socks available in this community. The ways this non-profit has been able to make so many people aware should be supported so that they can accomplish their goals and those experiencing homelessness never have to go without socks.
One of the beautiful lessons to be Learned from The Joy of Sox is that is the little things -- like a new pair of socks, that really make a difference to people in need. Another lesson is that it is so easy to meet the need because of the work of The Joy of Sox (JoS). Where once JoS counted its deliveries to the homeless in dozens, it now counts in cases due to the wonderful network of donors it has developed and nurtured. Tom Costello's lazer focus on this one unique need has made all of us believers in the goodness of his vision and admirers of his personal devotion. This is truly an outstanding nonprofit with tangible, measurable impact for the greater good in each community it touches.
Phenomenal growth in the last year,
Phenomenal people involved - from all walks of life.
A tremendous effort to provide a basic need, comfort and a bit of dignity.
The Joy Of Sox deserves "5 stars" and MORE!
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Working with and for this organization is a JOY!
The joy Of Sox keeps growing -- in size (all volunteers!) and numbers -- the numbers of sock collected and distributed!
I've posed here before, but after a year I decided it's all right to brag about how terrific (and talented) the many people associated with the Joy Of Sox are. I am honored and humbled to be in their company.
This is a grass roots effort to meet an under-recognized need - new, warm, dry socks for our homeless brothers and sisters. It's such a simple concept and yet it makes such a profound difference in the daily lives of those living on the streets. In just a few short years, The Joy of Sox has improved the quality of life for quite literally thousands of people!
I first heard about this organization when I was browsing through career fair tables in Villanova University. I always have been interested in working for nonprofits and I did not think the career fair would have any of them. Therefore, I went up to talk to Tom, the Chief Sock Person as he calls himself. He told me stories from the street, from the homeless people he met and from all the schools that did socks drives. I was so moved that not only I signed up for the volunteer list but also took on the responsibilities of social media for The Joy of Sox. I cannot stress enough how much Tom has taught me and how much positive impact The Joy of Sox will have on the community.
Joy of Sox has given me the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives, one pair of socks at a time.
The Joy of Sox is a wonderful organization that meets a large - and often ignored - need. The organization has contributed socks for a number of years to our annual coat and winter item drive for low-income immigrants - We are very thankful for their contributions, which have greatly benefited many immigrant families in need.
The Joy of Sox does a wonderful job of providing a necessity - clean, new socks for the homeless men and women of Philadelphia. Always responsive, excited to interact with the community.
I have loved volunteering with The Joy of Sox. Tom is passionate and motivated to help those experiencing homelessness. I am proud to be a volunteer, intern and board member for such a thoughtful and giving organization. Keep up the great work!
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Working with Joy of Sox has been a highlight of my year. Their mission is unique and essential. Tom is passionate about his work and is eager to help anyone and everyone in need.
I have had the opportunity to attend sock deliveries recently. It was so heart warming to see the love, gratitude and happiness in the eyes of those receiving socks. They people are eager to talk with you and visit. They express their deep gratitude in something so simple as socks. It makes me reflect on the things I take for granted.
Thank you Joy of Sox for giving myself and many others an opportunity to help those in need! I am excited to continue my work!
As a nonprofit professional at a university, I've come into contact with the Joy of Sox many times. Our students have been volunteering with their amazing program: providing socks--a simple necessity--for the homeless. Through their volunteer work, they've had the opportunity to learn administrative and organizational skills, to engage with other volunteers, and to spend time with the homeless.
Knowing of their depth of experience in programming, I decided to look into their governance and financials. They are a well-run organization, with a depth of knowledge in their board and volunteers that helps me to understand how they are managed and trust what they do.
We have been working with Tom and the team at The Joy of Sox since they started! They have been so organized from the start. We volunteer at a homeless shelter once a month in Philadelphia and each month we give the men 3 pairs of socks each. They are so very appreciative of something fresh. The Joy of Sox makes that happen! Whenever we need socks we call Tom and can stop and get a box. We have also been able to run sock drives with our kids and get the community involved. Such a great idea. The homeless really appreciate the fresh new socks. We work with other small non profits and can say that The Joy of Sox is one of the best!
In such a seemingly simple way, the Joy of Sox transforms lives. People who need socks are indeed overjoyed at the gift of pairs of socks to comfort aching feet. People who learn of the Joy of Sox, its mission, and its accomplishments begin to see the world differently, enter into relationship with people who are experiencing poverty and/or homelessness, and begin to work to provide direct assistance to those who need it.
This year was our first sock drive in our school, Williamsburg Charter High School in Brooklyn, NY, and it was a huge success with the help of one of our senior class advisory. They took their time in promoting the idea for a month and at the end collected over 250 pairs. We will continue to have it yearly.
During these challenging times when my faith in people and institutions needs restoring, I find The Joy Of Sox. Brilliant In its simplicity and admirable for its effective execution, there is much to celebrate about this important and often overlooked form of help for the homeless. The organization's quiet, unassuming chief sox person, Tom Costello offers a strong source of hope to those like me who sometimes find it difficult to maintain hope these days. I encourage everyone to support Tom's vision of new sox for every homeless person in this region and beyond. And whether you provide financial support, give time as a volunteer or do both, let The Joy Of Sox help you experience the joy of being a part of something you can believe in.
Review from Guidestar
The Joy of Sox is a great reminder that a simple idea is all it takes to change lives and impact an entire community.
Absolutely wonderful organization that fulfills such an important need for the Homeless.
I have volunteered on several occasions and look forward to more opportunities.
Tom Costello and his team are truly Angels!
This is an exceptional organization which specifically targets and provides one of the most sought after and appreciated items needed by people experiencing homelessness. By honing in on socks, this organization really maintains a clear focus that makes their mission effective and achievable. Socks are often overlooked as an item of extreme necessity, however lack of fresh socks can lead to serious health concerns, causing an able-bodied person to deteriorate much more quickly than expected. THANK YOU TO THE JOY OF SOX!
One of the best organizations to support. What a great mission to provide socks for the homeless.
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What a generous and unique way of proving the homeless with something so small that provides need, warm and healthy rewards. Tom has taken a small token and launched into a national cause. It's an easy endeavor that can be undertaken by a first grader donating socks to a child his age, a woman's group or a corporate campaign. I find myself talking about the mission, goals and initiatives at work, with my friends and community-wide. It is always a great feeling to help anyone in need, but this is way too easy and much more gratifying. Keep up the good work and spread The Joy of Sox!
Tom Costello, the leader of the Joy of Sox, is dedicated to improving the lives of others by providing socks for those in need. Committed volunteers who believe in his cause are working to bring joy and hope to homeless men, women, and children throughout the world. I have conducted sock drives in my school and delivered socks to homeless shelters. These experiences have helped me become more aware of others and grateful for the life I have been given.
"If someone wanted to torture me until I told them a critical piece of information, all they would have to do is get my socks wet. It feels terrible.”―Lemony Snicket
Many non-profits declare they're "grass roots" and built from "the ground up," but The Joy of Sox actually is. Tom Costello and his team of volunteers have created a vital, life-changing distribution network for one of the most basic and oft-neglected needs for anyone, especially those "sleeping rough": crisp, clean, comfortable, socks.
Each pair is offered in love, given to provide comfort and care for each person who receives one (or several, if a friend could use a pair). And each is offered with the knowledge that caring for the feet of those is not only comforting, but also prevents many of the health problems that beset the homeless.
Inspiring?
Yes.
So much so that I'm joining them ―in any way I can ―to expand this wonderful mission everywhere it is needed!
I volunteer my time at homeless shelter on a weekly basis, and one of the biggest requests from the residents is whether we have socks available to give away. The Joy of Sox always keeps us stocked with socks! Myself and the residents of the shelter couldn't be more thankful!
Such an amazing charity to work with. They go above and beyond in every aspect. I'm very excited to see what the future holds for this non-profit.
The Joy of Sox is a very lean organization that does one essential thing...provides socks to the homeless, both in our greater Philadelphia area and nationwide.
Such a small thing that we all take for granted makes such a big difference in people's lives. Thanks for providing us with the opportunity to make a difference!
It's is an honor to be associated with The Joy of Sox and Mr. Tom Costello, Founder & "Chief Sock Person". Following the Fox & Friends story with Erin Bertel, I reached out to Tom to explore the possibilities of working together to help the 150 homeless veterans living in the woods along the tourist corridor in Kissimmee Florida. A few weeks later Tom and I got together for a lunch of catfish at an old fish camp and it wasn't long before I knew that Tom Costello was a very good man, a man of integrity and a man with the business acumen to lead The Joy of Sox to fulfill its mission of simply providing socks to the homeless - everywhere.
What I love about this nonprofit is the simplicity of its mission and the obvious need, once you think about it. I am like Tom in that I'd never thought of socks as a critical need for people on the street, but once you think about it it is a no-brainer.
The Joy of Sox is among the best nonprofit organizations I've worked with. Tom went above and beyond in representing the organization to different groups we were going to interact with and helped us to create a wonderful sock drive. Their website is clear, full of stories and photos and makes engaging the public easy. We used links to The Joy of Sox website extensively while conducting our sock drive and many people told us they learned about the need for socks by visiting that site.
Working with The Joy of Sox has been a true blessing. It's amazing to be a part of an organization with as much heart as this one. The Joy of Sox addresses the extremely necessary, and yet often overlooked need to provide socks to the homeless. The work this organization does, and the passion and love the organization does it with, makes The Joy of Sox truly extraordinary.
From the very start, the leadership of this relatively young organization has been willing to push the envelope to serve new clients.
Forty-eight hours before I was to depart for Anchorage, Alaska I mentioned to a friend at The Joy of Sox that i would be attending a fundraiser at Anchorage's Downtown Soup Kitchen (DSK) - and that at the event, the DSK would be collecting gloves and socks for clients. If there is one place in the U.S. where gloves and socks are needed, it's Anchorage.
The next day, The Joy of Sox delivered to my home 89 pair of sox, which I took to Alaska and deposited at the DSK 72 hours later.
The Joy of Sox CARES!
From personal experience, I first hand, know the power of a pair of socks. Since discovering The Joy of Sox and speaking with Tom, my life has changed. I am now in a home and showering my community with 100s of socks. A GREAT Nonprofit to support and volunteer with. I am blessed.
The Joy of Sox is a program meeting fundamental needs for the most marginalized in our societies. Our world would undoubtedly be a better place if each of us perceived human beings with the love and respect that this organization embodies. We each have rights and responsibilities to our brothers and sisters, and The Joy of Sox lives those responsibilities with conviction.
Several years ago I met the "Sock Man" through his wife, Nancy. Hearing Tom's story of how "The Joy of Sox" came about moved my heart. I decided for Christmas I would make a donation to this worthy nonprofit organization as my Christmas present for my family. I even shared his story in my Christmas letter. At another time I volunteered to sort the socks knowing that so many homeless are in need of such a basic simple piece of clothing that I take for granted. Fast forward, this fall I began a new ministry at a Detention Center where I assist in providing hygiene items for the women in which many are brought in off the streets. I connected with Tom asking if he could help me out in providing socks for the women. He didn't hesitate a moment in offering me assistance. Each time I offer a woman a pair of socks, I see a smile of appreciation for a warm pair of socks. I smile, too, in gratitude for the service that The Joy of Sox" provides beyond local neighborhoods to my neighborhood in Baltimore. Sister Kathy Claflin, SSJ
I am doing my 2nd year of post-graduate servoce with Cabrini Mission Corps and at some point last year was introduced to the founder, Tom, through his wife Nancy. Nancy and I both work at the college and once I found out about the great work Tom was doing for some of the most vulnerable and marginalized in our society, I couldn't help but want to learn more. I would like to get more involved, but with graduate school, service, work, and building my community it hasn't been easy. Nevertheless, I will find time to do some small things to help the cause including getting Cabrini College students involved! I hope others do small things too and together we'll make a big difference!
I am a staff member of St. Thomas of Villanova Parish Community in Rosemont, PA.
We collect socks for the Joy of Sox throughout the year and also have parishioners volunteer with local Joy of Sox events (packaging, phone calls to local agencies, organizing volunteers.)
Our parish volunteers appreciate how their volunteer gifts are utilized and they appreciate the efficiency of this organization. When we do a sock drive - parishioners know that the socks are going to get to people who really need those socks.
Thanks for this opportunity to express my appreciation for this nonprofit that fills a much needed gap in social services.
I work for The Salvation Army in South Bend IN. We were collecting socks to put in care packages for homeless individuals in our community. Tom called and discussed our needs with me personally, and was willing to ship the donation across the country to us. I've never spoken with anyone who demonstrates such enthusiasm and passion for his chosen service! We were excited to have a great agency partner to help us with filling the needs in our community, and our homeless clients are very grateful for new, warm socks, especially as the weather gets colder.
I met the leader and founder, Tom Costello Jr, of The Joy Of Sox, the day I showed up for an Entrepreneur class. He was to be our instructor. Over the length of that class I gained a strong respect for a man that I could tell, was dedicated to this cause. It seems so simple a thing to supply the homeless with socks but no one had been doing it on a large scale. What a great idea was my first thought. I've watched this charity grow from a local beginning to a solid national entity succeeding at their goal. I wish them well and totally support their efforts. I wholeheartedly recommend them and have no qualms about supporting them financially as well as with my well wishes. JohnnyK
Been working with the Joy of Sox for three years and have enjoyed the partnership. Tom does such a great job educating the volunteers on why the work that they are doing is important. He enjoys celebrating the successes and, at the same time, look for ways to improve the organization. Joy of Sox is a great non-profit!
The Joy of Sox is a partner non-profit with us. Our organization, In Ian's Boots, gives shoes and boots to those in need. So many of our clients appreciate the fact that we not only give them a pair of shoes, but thanks to The Joy of Sox, they can also receive a pair or two of socks! Although there are many stories of our clients' thankfulness for both shoes and socks, one particularly comes to mind:
We received an emergency call from the local Salvation Army. One of their residents, a homeless gentleman, was going to get married the following day. The Salvation Army had supplied him with a suit, but he needed shoes. We brought him an almost-new pair of Bostonians and a new pair of men's dress socks courtesy of our stock supplied by The Joy of Sox. Both the Salvation Army and the groom were thrilled! Although they had realized that he needed a suit and shoes, no one thought of socks. This simple gift was the source of great happiness for someone who literally had nothing on his wedding day.
We at In Ian's Boots, truly value our partnership with The Joy of Sox.
I met Tom a couple of years back when I was still the new priest at St. Martin's Episcopal Church, Radnor PA. Tom came in one Sunday and told his own story of transformation through this sock ministry, and what it has meant to the thousands of sockless folks in our shelters desperately in need of these items. We continue to collect socks every week for Joy of Sox, and always look forward each year to Tom coming to our Maundy Thursday service during Holy Week (the washing of feet). I can not think of another group out there doing good in the world that deserves your recognition more. Peace!
The Rev. Christopher Bishop
St. Martin's Church
Radnor PA
610-688-4830
The Joy of Sox is an organization that is filling a much needed niche for the homeless. Homeless individuals have shared that they are often the recipients of other articles of clothing and for this they are grateful, however, no one thinks of providing them with new socks and new socks are a much needed, much sought after item.
Ever stepped In a puddle on a cold wintry day? It's extremely uncomfortable. What is the first thing you want to do when you get home? Put on a pair of new warm socks! Our homeless brothers and sisters sadly don't have this option. And, cold, wet feet can lead to major podiatric and systemic health problems.
The Joy of Sox is working to ameliorate this suffering by providing homeless shelters with new socks to provide their guests.
New socks are something thing most of the population simply takes for granted. This organization is working to bring the joy of new socks into the lives of the homeless - one pair of socks at a time.
I have been in the sock business for over twenty years and have always love the fashion business but wanted to make and impact in the lived of others. The Joy of Sox does that! This organization and it's founder make be proud to be a sock professional who can design and develop product for fashion and at the same time make an impact in the lives of those who are living on the street where your feet take a beating.
This nonprofit is the epitome of what began as one person, truly making a difference. I have had the honor of delivering socks, to a number of shelters in our area over the past couple of years. The organizations who benefit from Joy of Sox always comment how this is an item they usually don't receive. Used clothes are donated but what do you do with used socks - they are thrown away. Something so simple, that we take for granted, truly brings great joy & comfort to those in need! I am honored and humbled to see the hard work/dedication of those participating in this program and pray their good deeds will continue for many, many years to come.
I was fortunate enough to be able to intern for a semester with The Joy of Sox. Not only is the service provided essential and tangible, but the education element is amazing. I learned not only about homelessness as a phenomenon, but also about general health, health of the homeless, and how something as simple as a new pair of socks once a month can radically improve someone's health. A great experience with a great organization!
As someone who has helped with publicity for The Joy of Sox since the beginning, I am proud of my affiliation with this outstanding non-profit. Tom is a visionary, and working with him has been a privilege. A lot of non-profits falter by trying to do too many things. The Joy of Sox has one very simple and clear purpose, and makes a direct impact on the homeless population. He makes interacting, donating, and volunteering easy, fun, and rewarding. I would strongly suggest to anyone looking for an opportunity to make a difference to volunteer or donate to The Joy of Sox.
A local parish invited me to speak at their Sunday Masses. Afterwards, Tom Costello approached me and said he would like to help out with the agency I mentioned, Catherine McAuley Center in Scranton, PA. Sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy Mid-Atlantic community, this center provides temporary shelter for women and children in crisis and assists women to attain safe, affordable, permanent housing.
Tom and his terrific team provided 1511 pairs of socks that will warm both the feet and hearts of the recipients in Scranton. By providing NEW socks they also help promote the dignity of women, children and men who will gratefully receive them.
Sister Beth Flannery, RSM
First class organization. Really impressed by everything that they do. We work with the homeless, and it is dangerous to wear wet socks. And gross to wear horribly dirty ones. Joy of Sox helps us help them. And they do it in a remarkably professional and joyful manner.
Our organization provides everyday essentials for children living in poverty. New socks and underwear are always items in short supply. Joy of Sox has identified, and focuses on fulfilling, an unmet need in low-income communities that is urgent and ongoing, and often under the radar. We look forward to our regular donations of brand new socks which enhance our ability to perform out mission.
I like working with Tom and Nancy and all the people, I meet at the sock drives. I am trying to get my school involved because there are many homeless kids and they need socks too. I'm happy that my mom got me to be part of this fun and great organization.
A friend "resurfaced" after a period of living on the streets and the subject of The Joy of Sox came up. He emphatically reinforced the point that for the homeless foot issues are a major problem and that there were many times he had foot issues created by not having clean dry sox.
Who knew that clean, dry sox, like so many things we take for granted, can have a big public health impact and improve the quality of life for the unfortunate? Well, they do. I heard it from the source.
The Joy of Sox is life-changing. It brings dignity and respect to recipients to are otherwise looked down upon and unappreciated.
Saint John's Hospice is a recipient of the largess of The Joy of Sox. We routinely offer underwear (tee shirts, shorts, socks) to every individual who comes in to Saint John's for a morning shower. Because of The Joy of Sox over the past 4 years, we have never run short of socks and have not had to purchase socks for our men (as we have had to do for tee shirts and under shorts).
The Joy of Sox is blessed with inspired and generous leadership that is proactive in the community. It seeks out those organizations that need socks and helps in any way possible. The Joy of Sox makes good use of volunteers by engaging them also in service to the needy and homeless among them.
I have been volunteering for a short time with The Joy of Sox. The mission of the organization is short and simple....providing new socks to the homeless. I learned about the organization through a community outreach table at the local farmers market. Like many, I had never realized how important socks are for the homeless. What an easy, yet much needed, way to help. After speaking with Tom Costello further, I new The Joy of Soxs was an organization I wanted to be involved with. He is organized and methodical in his efforts to build the organization. There is a real passion for the work being done. I look forward to my continued relationship with this organization.
While it is obvious this organization provides a valuable service, the extended value may not be. Founded by a few with a heartfelt mission, the organization has grown through a caring network. The founder spoke with my undergraduate class at Villanova U and highlighted the role of networking and relationship-building in the growth of the organization. Tom has been a valuable role-model for having your values guide your work. Now other students are sharing their talents and volunteering to support this group which is providing greater meaning to their studies and their lives. This is a wonderful opportunity to be reminded that we all can and should make a difference every day.
My name is Ashley Pavone, and I learned a lot from the Joy of Sox while volunteering with Tom in 2010 and 2011. This organization does something so simple, but something so meaningful for those in need. The incredible people who hold drives do more than just collect socks. They provide many homeless people with security and warmth, and the knowledge that somebody out there cares.
This is Pastor Brian Wicks of Resurrection Ministries in San antonio Texas. We have been a recipient as well as vollunteered with joy of sox for the past 2 years. They have allways been a blessing to us in supply of needed socks for our homeless outreach efforts on the street when ours was short. I also have been a distributer in conjunction with "The Natl. Day of Giving Socks to the Homeless"-Feb 14th. Tom Costello meets the basic needs of individuals and beyond to include assisting us with one of our traveling members when stuck at Grand Central Station in NYC. The Joy of Socks is a great "unique" Ministry.
Review from Guidestar
This organization does something important but overlooked. It provides socks to homeless men and women. Clean socks are something that most of us take for granted, yet for a homeless person socks can represent a small comfort and help restore a small amount of individual dignity. Fueled by more love than money, this is an organization worth supporting.
Review from Guidestar
The Joy of Sox is philanthropy at its best and purest form. I am so honored to be a small part of the work that is being done to ensure the health and well-being of the homeless in the Philadelphia and five county region. The work that Tom Costello and family are doing makes a huge impact, and it is so direct and inclusive. I am very impressed at how many people from various walks of life have rallied around this new organization, and it is because the work is humble, honest, and caring. The dignity of the homeless client is respected, and The Joy of Sox is poised to do just as much for the spirit as it is doing for the health and comfort of the homeless.
Review from Guidestar
Joy of Sox send our center for homeless youth hundreds of great quality socks! It was a simple process and the socks were greatly appreciated.
Review from Guidestar
I had never thought about the need for socks, until I saw one of the homeless guys in Philly on crutches. I thought that he had been hit by a car, but he shared that he had simply worn wet socks for much much too long and his feet were rotting. I gave him some clean ones, and he was well the next time I saw him. The Joy of Socks meets that need for many, and they do it in an ambitious, effective, and energetic manner
Review from Guidestar