Socks for Heroes is a local organization founded in 2008 in San Clemente, CA. In honor of Memorial Day, we caught up with Jim to help spread the word about the organization, its mission, and how people can help support it.
For those who aren't aware, can you provide some background on why you started Socks for Heroes?
Socks for Heroes was founded as a result of a meeting between myself, Carla, and two friends of our son, whom he had served with in Afghanistan. Knowing that they were getting to deploy to Afghanistan, we asked what we might do to help—what we could send them. They surprised us by saying "socks." We had thought that the Marine Corps provided clothing, but we found that the Marine Corps does not supply uniforms, underwear or socks. The Marines had to supply them themselves. What we learned was that socks are a key component for an infantryman, as they spend up to 16 hours a day patrolling, and don't take their boots off for days at a time. These conditions, coupled with a lack of laundry facilities, cause Marines to wash their socks in canals and air dry them. The result is socks filled with sand and grit from windstorms. After hearing this, it made sense to us that a ready supply of inexpensive, disposable socks would be useful to them.
What has been one of the most challenging aspects of running this organization?
Our biggest challenge is reminding people that there are still Americans fighting and dying in the Global War on Terror and that our Nation's Service Members deserve to be remembered. With all of the divisiveness that is broadcast in the media today, many people forget that there is one group of people that deserve their support regardless of political affiliation, a group that consists of what is best in America, that encompasses all aspects of our society that choose to put their Nation's interests ahead of their own. While it is a challenge, it is one that we accept gladly.
"What we learned was that socks are a key component for an infantryman, as they spend up to 16 hours a day patrolling, and don't take their boots off for days at a time."
