XENIA, Ohio — A little generosity went a long way in Greene County last month. Greene County Public Health announced on Tuesday, November 3, that its first Spooktacular Sock Drive collected an impressive 1,292 pairs of socks during October, all of them donated by community members to benefit local children through HTC, formerly known as Hannah’s Treasure Chest, according to Greene County Public Health.
The drive ran from October 1 through October 27, according to the health district’s September 25 announcement of the effort. Residents were invited to donate new socks of all sizes, with a focus on children from birth through age 12, by placing them in a collection bin in the lobby of Greene County Public Health at 360 Wilson Drive in Xenia during the district’s Monday-through-Friday hours.
Health officials said the response showed how a simple item can carry real weight for a family in need. “A pair of socks may seem like a small and simple gift, but for a child who needs them, that small gift can mean comfort, dignity, and knowing that someone cares,” Laurie Fox, public information officer for Greene County Public Health, said in the health district’s announcement of the drive. “It’s a wonderful reminder that even the simplest acts of kindness can make a lasting difference.”
The socks will reach children through HTC, a nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of children in need, according to Greene County Public Health. Founded in 2001, HTC provides clothing, shoes, books, toys, hygiene items and other essentials through a network of community partner agencies, supporting children and families throughout Southwest Ohio who need extra help.
The partnership is a natural fit for the health district, whose staff work with local families every day. “Our partnership with HTC allows us to connect families with resources that can make a real difference in their everyday lives,” Stephanie Sanders, community health services program manager at Greene County Public Health, said in the health district’s announcement. “When organizations come together to support children and families, we can reach more people, meet more needs, and strengthen the community we all call home.”
The timing matters heading into the colder months. Socks are a basic layer of warmth that growing children go through quickly, and a fresh pair is one of the simplest needs a care package can meet. By collecting 1,292 pairs in its first year, the drive turned a Halloween-season idea into a stock of essentials partner agencies can put to work for area children right away.
Greene County Public Health is based at 360 Wilson Drive in Xenia and can be reached at 937-374-5600, with offices open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Whether the Spooktacular drive returns for a second year has not been announced, but its first-year total — 1,292 pairs, gathered one donation at a time — sets a generous benchmark to beat.