A pair of dry socks makes all the difference for the homeless

Life on the street is hard, particularly on the feet.

Beyond the aching heels and swollen soles many homeless people endure from hoofing it all day, nurse practitioner Martin Murphy treats many other painful foot conditions while making the rounds of homeless camps and hangouts on behalf of Swope Health Services.

Frostbite. Trench foot. Blisters. Open sores that won’t heal from having spent days on end stewing in soggy, cold shoes and socks. He offers care for lots of sore feet inside Swope’s medical van.

“Athlete’s foot doesn’t sound like a big deal,” he said, “but it can be pretty miserable.”

Dry socks are a helpful prescription. Fresh socks can stave off misery that wet ones only make worse. That was one of the sobering themes at an otherwise festive fundraiser at City Market on Saturday.

Socks and Hops benefited Swope’s health care program for the homeless. Tickets sold for $25, $45 and $75. But partygoers also were urged to donate socks at an event where several local breweries (here’s the hops part) served craft beer.

“What really started it is we were sitting around my office thinking up ideas for a fundraiser, and someone suggested having a sock hop,” explained Michelle Keller, the clinic’s vice president of patient services. “Then it just snowballed from there.”

The sock theme made all kinds of sense, Keller said. Not only is it a kindness, but in Swope’s case, the promise of a fresh pair of socks helps attract homeless folks for other medical care they might otherwise avoid.

“Many of these people have trust issues,” Murphy said. “It gets them to come see us.”

Organizers weren’t sure how much money they will have raised by the time the books are closed on this year’s event. But they were already more than good on socks before the first beer was poured.

Laura Schmidt, owner of Notes to Self, a Prairie Village company that sells socks with inspirational messages printed on the soles, has donated 1,000 pairs so far this year. Also, a large shipment from The Gap is on its way.

This tickles Vickie Riddle, executive director of the Homeless Services Coalition of Greater Kansas City.

“What they are doing is wonderful, on target and points to their desire to help the homeless in holistic ways, not just in terms of their health,” she said.

This story was originally published November 13, 2015 at 1:59 PM with the headline "A pair of dry socks makes all the difference for the homeless."