The Drive to Collect 10,000 Pairs of Socks for Stepping Up’s 10th Anniversary 

Socks. 

Inexpensive. Uncomplicated. Boring. And definitely not glamorous.

But for hundreds of people living on the streets, something as basic as a pair of clean new socks can be a lifesaver. They keep feet warm, they keep feet dry, and they help make boots fit properly.

Often overlooked during clothing drives because they have to be new, Barry Christensen founded Stepping Up/Un Pas vers l’Avant (formerly Sock It To Me), an organization dedicated to collecting new socks for the homeless. Having worked as a paramedic with Urgences-santé for 42 years, Christensen witnessed first-hand how something so simple can have a huge impact on the health and welfare of people living on the streets.

Now in its 10th year of operation, Stepping Up has collected nearly 75,000 pairs of socks since its inception, along with truckloads of gently used clothing and pallets of new insulated sports garments donated by individuals and local companies who hope to make the lives of the disadvantaged a little more bearable.

In his first year of collecting, Christensen started small, collecting just under 500 pairs of socks. Thinking back to its beginnings, Christensen says, “Ten years ago, that first little car load had me beaming ear-to-ear. Little did I know how much more would come in over the years.”

As he puts it, “The nice thing with socks is how simple it is to make a difference.” A nominee for the Teresa Dellar Community Foundation Award for Volunteerism, Christensen has worked tirelessly to help provide shelters and missions across the Island of Montreal with socks and other clothing, trying to fill a basic need that makes a tremendous difference in the lives of so many.

His numbers have grown steadily since he started, with a record-breaking tally of over 20,000 pairs collected in 2020. Every year brings additional challenges for Christensen, not only in seeking out socks and financial contributions, but in securing drop-off locations across Greater Montreal, arranging for trucks to transport the donations, and finding a place to store truckloads of clothing.

“I changed the name of my organization to ‘Stepping Up’ because that's all people have to do to help. When I pick up donations at schools, the look of pride on the kids’ faces is truly heartwarming. And it’s so easy to help; just spreading the word and collecting at the office or your book club or hockey practice […] We have two drop-off locations in the West Island, or you can contact me for larger pick-ups. People can also donate directly — every dollar donated buys two pairs of socks.” 

Homelessness is no longer an issue only plaguing the downtown core of Montreal. It’s on our streets, in front of our favourite shops, and hidden in our industrial zones. The needs of the unhoused continue to grow and spread outside the central core of the city and into our neighbourhoods. While many of the West Island’s local organizations do outstanding work in trying to provide food and shelter to those who require it, the basics of clothing and socks are often not considered. Stepping Up/Un Pas vers L’Avant is there, working with other agencies and organizations to try and fill that gap.

If your school, religious institution, group, or business would like to become involved in Stepping Up/Un Pas vers l’Avant’s annual sock drive or to make a donation, please email info@steppingupmtl.ca or visit https://www.steppingupmtl.ca or the Facebook page. 

Beginning November 1st, socks can be dropped off at Gilbert & Daughter in the Valois Shopping Centre at 49 Ave. Donegani in Pointe-Claire and at Terrafolia Flowers in Centennial Plaza at 3375 Sources Blvd. In Dollard-des-Ormeaux.