Giving is contagious

Giving is contagious. This is especially true in the internet age, when an audience can multiply at the push of a button and social media like Facebook and Twitter make it fun to spread the word.

St. Anthony’s put out a few requests this year that “went viral,” sometimes without the help of the internet. If you ever think your gift is too small or your project too limited to make a difference, think again. It just might catch on.

Blogging for Socks

St. Anthony programs are always asking for socks. Every program at St. Anthony’s gives out socks, an urgent need of most of our guests.

One such request was picked up by Craig Newmark (founder of Craigslist) and broadcast on his blog. The result was a nationwide response and enough socks to make up the gap for our Christmas gift bags. Children’s socks are still coming in regularly from Planet Sox in New York. Long after Christmas, but well into winter, our Free Medical Clinic and Free Clothing Program still give away children’s socks in bright colors and cartoon patterns, as well as flip flops, slippers, and sunglasses, to the families we serve.