Halifax's 'Queen of Socks' Leads Drive to Deliver Over 100,000 Pairs to Shelters
Mary Crosby's Socks for Shelters initiative in Halifax has grown from a 2021 goal of 100 pairs to an expected total of over 100,000 pairs donated by December. On Dec. 2, volunteers will deliver socks to 15 shelters across the Halifax Regional Municipality.
Mary Crosby, known locally as the "queen of socks," founded the Socks for Shelters initiative in Halifax in 2021 with an initial goal of collecting 100 pairs of socks for people experiencing homelessness. That year, she collected 5,446 pairs. The project has since expanded significantly, growing from three initial recipient shelters to 15 across the Halifax Regional Municipality.
The initiative's Facebook group now has over 16,000 members. By December, Socks for Shelters is expected to have donated more than 100,000 pairs of socks to shelters throughout the municipality. The goal for 2026 is to donate 25,000 pairs, and more than 16,000 pairs had already been collected at the time of reporting. Last year, the group surpassed its goal of 22,000 pairs by collecting 25,000.
Community support has helped manage the volume of donations. After the collection outgrew Crosby's spare bedroom, U-Haul provided a large bin to store the socks. Enterprise Rent-a-Car donated a truck to facilitate deliveries. On a recent Wednesday, Virgin Radio and Crosby set up a donation booth on Agricola Street in Halifax.
On Dec. 2, Crosby and her volunteer crew will deliver socks to 15 shelters. Souls Harbour Rescue Mission is set to receive 8,000 pairs from the initiative. Other organizations benefiting from the drive include Bryony House and the Halifax Shelter Society.
Michelle Porter, CEO of Souls Harbour Rescue Mission, stated that socks are the most requested item for shelters because homeless individuals lack the ability to do laundry. Providing clean, dry socks helps prevent health issues such as gangrene among people experiencing homelessness.