Hanna Turner, 4, was helping her parents serve Thanksgiving meals in a homeless shelter. Her mother, Doris, happened to look over at her daughter and noticed that she was staring at a homeless man’s feet. There were holes in the man’s shoes and Hanna could tell that he didn’t have any socks on. It was especially cold that Thanksgiving Day and Hannah was concerned his feet would freeze.
“Mommy, his feet will be cold. His feet will be cold,” Doris said.
Hannah would not stop.
Doris was focused on serving the meals and reassured Hannah that his shoes would be enough to keep him warm. Little Hannah got down, sat on the floor, took her shoes and her little pink socks off.
“Hannah! What are you doing?” her mother asked.
“Mommy, he can have my socks,” Hannah answered.
The next day, Doris took Hannah to a store and they bought 100 socks for the Cherry Street Mission for the homeless.
The word spread about Hannah’s generosity. That was 2004.
Today the non-profit organization, Hannah’s Socks, has delivered more than 100,000 pairs of socks to the homeless and women and children in domestic violence shelters.
Hannah’s Socks has primarily served In Toledo and Cincinnati, but for their fifth anniversary, they decided to spread into three other cities.
On Nov. 14, Hannah’s Socks hit the streets of Summit County with local homeless ministry, Springtime of Hope, and delivered 500 socks to Akron’s homeless.
Kelly Hancock first found out about Hannah’s Socks working with a public relations firm. She quickly became involved and now serves as a board member with the organization.
“Hannah’s story is so heartwarming that it inspired me to want to help,” said Hancock. “This is amazing because it all started with Hannah and her generosity, but at the same time, you have to look at the family she was raised in.”
Hannah was adopted. She is one of eight children the Turner’s adopted.
“They are some of the most generous people I have ever met in my life,” Hancock said. “Besides adopting eight kids, they run a non-profit out of their home.”
Hannah’s parents took her vision and responded. Many adults do not respond to a child’s vision like that. Hannah is involved with the process.
“She understands we are giving socks to people and she understands that Hannah’s Socks is growing, but the impact that she is really making and the way that she is inspiring people, I don’t think she is quite there yet,” Hancock said. “She is a 9-year-old little girl.”
When the agency was forming, her parents were talking about forming a board of directors.
“Mommy, what is a board?” Hannah asked.
“A board helps us with what we are trying to do and helps us grow,” Doris explained.
Hannah quickly decided they needed to have a board with children too. Hannah formed the junior board that is represented by elementary kids through high school.
Nov. 14, Hannah and her board were at a domestic violence shelter reading books and playing games with the children.
The organization primarily does socks and underwear. They occasionally get items such as scarves, mittens, and hats.
“Anything we get,” Hancock stated, “we make sure it goes to someone who needs it, but our focus is primarily socks and underwear. The homeless spend their days on the streets. They spend all day on their feet walking. They need that extra support on their feet. They need dry, clean socks. Socks are really an important part that people take for granted, but to a homeless person, socks are an important part of their health and well-being.”
Karen McNeill serves the local homeless with Springtime of Hope. Every Wednesday, they serve approximately 80 homeless in the Barberton area and 150 homeless in Akron on Fridays.
“A group of ladies do a home cooked meal,” said McNeill. “We do sweet and sour pork over rice and peach cobbler for desert. We give them a well balanced good hot meal. Then we send them back to their tents with a packed lunch with a sandwich, snack, and a drink.”
Springtime of Hope runs a homeless shelter for men. They provide all the toiletries including shaving cream, soaps and shampoos for the homeless.
“We need a lot of these things because all of this comes out of our pocket,” said McNeill. “We also need underwear and socks.”
With the cold weather coming, they desperately need coats, and warm clothing.
A shoe box Christmas will be delivered on Christmas night to the homeless. If you would like to fill a shoe box for the homeless, contact www.springtimeofhope.com.
Hannah’s Socks accepts all sizes of socks.
“The greatest need is men’s” Hancock stated, “but we accept all. We serve men, women and children.”
To donate to Hannah and her organization you can go to www.hannahssocks.com.
Being involved with Hannah’s Socks has, “probably been the best experience in my life,” Hancock stated. “It is so amazing to have your voice be heard and to be doing something for other people on a daily basis making a difference. The stories that you hear of the people who have been affected, makes me know it is all worth it. It is worth the extra hour I put in every day to help spread the word. It is so rewarding to know we are making a difference in people’s lives, in a small, but meaningful way.”
For more information about Hannah’s Socks, call 419-931-4757.
Donations can be sent to Hannah’s Socks P.O. Box 7, Perrysburg Ohio, 43552.
For information about Springtime of Hope call 330-294-0056.
