Socks for the Needy Campaign

PODIATRIST’S “SOCKS FOR THE NEEDY” CAMPAIGN BIG SUCCESS
(2,500 pairs of socks collected at YMCA’s and podiatrist offices)

(Providence, RI) – The Rhode Island Podiatric Medical Association (RIPMA) recently celebrated the successful completion of their “Socks for the Needy” campaign with a pre-game ceremony at a Pawtucket Red Sox game. Over 2,500 pairs of socks were donated at YMCA’s and podiatrist offices. This far surpassed their goal of 1,000 pairs of socks.

The Socks for the Needy campaign was part of the RIPMA 100th Anniversary celebration. The aim of the campaign was to collect new socks for needy children and adults for distribution by the Salvation Army of Rhode Island.

“The Rhode Island Podiatric Medical Association thanks all who donated socks to the campaign with a special thank you to campaign partners the YMCA, the PawSox and the Salvation Army. The RIPMA has long recognized the high incidence of foot health challenges among the needy and homeless as their feet are often wet and they lack dry clean socks to wear.” said Dr. David Ruggiero, president of the RIPMA. Dr. Ruggiero said, “This initiative was a great way to celebrate our 100th anniversary. We were delighted at its success being able to donate many more socks to the Salvation Army than we thought possible.

Major Wendy Kountz, RI State coordinator for the Salvation Army said, “We identified socks as a major clothing need for our constituents. So it was great to receive so many socks.”

Dr. Charles Cavicchio, executive director of the RIPMA said, “In addition to the sock collection, podiatrists conducted free foot screenings at the Pawtucket, Lincoln, Bayside (Barrington), Cranston, Kent County (Warwick) and South County YMCAs. Hundreds of Y members received foot screenings, many of them children on Healthy Kids Day.”