Hannah's Socks • warm feet, warm hearts

Well, after being gone for what seemed like forever, I was finally able to go to the Downtown Toledo Library to help with Hannah's Socks this past weekend!

It was definitely a chilly, breezy morning for the month of May along with an initial threat of rain, but Mother Nature cooperated. She decided to give a little sunshine as we gave away a couple hundred pairs of socks!

Thanks to Tabitha and Mike, who secured the boxes and card tables from the wind as folks lined up to see what Hannah's Socks had to share. There were definitely some new faces waiting for socks but some of my old friends were there, too.

One man told me he had a need for socks as he was awaiting heel surgery. Another young man shared that he was so thankful for the long socks he received because he is working construction right now and has to wear work boots. A third man was so pleased that we had socks that would fit his four children that were with him. Read more »

It may almost be Spring, but this past Saturday didn't quite feel like it with Mother Nature adding some cold rain and wind to our morning at the Downtown Toledo Library!

Fortunately, the Headman family wasn’t discouraged by the rain and joined me, with umbrellas in tow, to hand out socks and lip balm to our friends in need who also decided to come out despite the dreary weather.

One man's spirits were not dampened as he jokingly asked if we were also handing out the umbrellas that we were using to keep the socks dry! I kind of felt like a U.S. postal worker: despite rain, hail, sleet, or snow -- Hannah's Socks will deliver!

I do know that I myself am sure looking forward to Spring's warm temperatures, warm breezes, and warm sunshine to go along with the "Warm Feet, Warm Hearts" of Hannah's Socks!

Learn about volunteering with Hannah's Socks.

Lisa volunteers regularly with our Toledo-area team and shares her experiences in a weekly feature called "Volunteer Diary." Newsletter subscribers get to read her posts first.

"Would you like some Girl Scout Cookies?" That seemed to be the most attention-grabbing question of the morning from the past Saturday volunteering at the Downtown Toledo Library... even more than our routine question of "Would you like a pair of socks?"

Hannah's Socks was the recipient of a generous donation of 80 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies to hand out to our friends in need who also had a craving for cookies!

Unfortunately there was not enough for everyone due to the popularity of such a sweet surprise -- but those who received a box were very happy. Who doesn't love a Thin Mint or Peanut Butter Pattie?

For just one morning, in addition to the Hannah’s Socks volunteers using socks to warm feet and hearts, we also helped provide a few "full stomachs, full hearts."

Thank you Girl Scouts for your generosity to Toledo's men, women, and children in need!

Learn about volunteering with Hannah's Socks.

Lisa volunteers regularly with our Toledo-area team and shares her experiences in a weekly feature called "Volunteer Diary." Newsletter subscribers get to read her posts first.

A recent Saturday, the day before Valentine's Day, the Hannah's Socks volunteers were at the Downtown Toledo Library to help "share the love" with our friends in need.

Cupid's helpers included a young married couple, a family with three young children, a group of young people from the Perrysburg YMCA, Hannah's Socks co-founder Vic Turner and his father-in-law, and yours truly :)

I think this was the biggest group of volunteers I'd ever seen at one time helping to "Care, Share, Give A Pair"! And it was a good thing we had a big group of volunteers, because we had lots of "love" to share with many socks, gloves, hats, scarves, tubes of lip balm, and bottles of hand moisturizer. We had three overflowing card tables full of boxes of pre-Valentine’s Day "goodies" to give away. What a wonderful way to celebrate the Valentine’s Day weekend! Thanks to all who came out.

Learn about volunteering with Hannah's Socks.

Lisa volunteers regularly with our Toledo-area team and shares her experiences in a weekly feature called "Volunteer Diary." Newsletter subscribers get to read her posts first.

When you think about having conversations about "beauty," you probably wouldn't think of that conversation happening outside in frigid cold temperatures with a man who may be homeless. But that's exactly what happened this past Saturday at the Downtown Toledo Library!

One of our friends who visits with us regularly as the Hannah's Socks volunteers are giving out socks started a conversation about how beauty is what is on the inside of someone. He commented that looks can often be deceiving. Although he might see a "beauty" on the outside, that same desirable goodness may not be on the inside.

His words are so true! Often the image that comes to mind when we think of a homeless person is that of someone who appears unkempt, wearing tattered, dirty clothes; that's not only a stereotype that rarely reflects the true face of homelessness, but that point-of-view means we're very likely missing out on the beauty that can come from within! Read more »

In life, people often strive to have "more than enough" but we want to "keep up with the Joneses" and have the biggest and most modern home filled with the latest trends in interior design. We want the most fashionable clothes and accessories. We long for the perfect job that will move us up the ladder to success and wealth. We envy those who have the "perfect" healthy, beautiful body.

This past Saturday several of my Downtown Toledo Public Library friends reminded me that satisfaction can be had with having "just enough." Read more »

The word for the day this past Saturday was "thermal."

Now, there are several different definitions of that word -- some being related to manufacturing, physics, or meteorology. But the definition of most interest on a frigid 11-degree morning was the one related to clothing: "Intended for body warmth, designed to retain body heat." Read more »

This past Saturday seemed to be a continuance of what I am calling the "Humility and Gratefulness 101 Course" offered to me as a Hannah's Socks volunteer.

In addition to being a part of the sock distribution at the Downtown Toledo Library, I also accompanied the Turner family and a group of volunteers from Bowling Green State University to the Cherry St. Mission's "drop-in center" on Madison Ave. to help hand out socks, underwear, hats, and gloves.

Many of us may take these little "necessities" for granted. Read more »

"Not what we say about our blessings but how we use them is the true measure of our thanksgiving." –W.T. Purkiser

As two volunteers and I were handing out socks this past Saturday, this recently read quote came to my thoughts. It's easy for many of us to say what we are thankful for at least once a year at Thanksgiving time, and some of us may even declare our thankfulness for the whole month of November -- as some friends who are on Facebook have been doing this past month.

But how easy is it for us to actually demonstrate our gratitude and share that thankfulness with others? When I first started going to the Downtown Library with Hannah's Socks co-founder Doris Turner, I was a little nervous. I wasn't sure what to expect from the experience of handing out socks to a large group of "homeless people." Read more »

We were fortunate to have another wonderful Fall morning for distributing socks this past Saturday on the Downtown Toledo Library lawn!

After the socks had all been handed out, I was chatting with a man who was relaxing on one of the wooden benches near the library. He commented, "It doesn’t get any better than this! The sun is shining! The sky is blue! I have a full stomach, and I have some new socks! I am ready for a nice afternoon nap! It doesn't get any better than this!" Read more »