New San Francisco nonprofit tackles homelessness with fresh new socks

By Itay Hod

SAN FRANCISCO — A newly established non-profit group in San Francisco is aiding town’s unhoused residents by offering a few of life’s primary requirements.

In terms of giving a serving to hand to the homeless, Healers With out Borders president and San Francisco native Brad Reiss likes to start out on the ft and work his means up. 

“These socks are a very good solution to join with of us and begin to possibly break the chain of habit,” he stated.  

For the previous eight months, Reiss and his group of volunteers at Healers With out Borders have been spending their days handing out every little thing from garments to hygiene kits to footwear. However their most treasured gadgets, those they can not do with out, are contemporary, fluffy, new pairs of socks.  

“Socks are so vital to really feel such as you’re a part of the human race,” Reiss defined. “Your ft really feel more energizing, you are feeling more energizing.” 

On a latest sunny day, Reiss and his group hit the Mission District, distributing greater than 300 pairs of socks to these in want.  

“It is essentially the most sought-after factor that folks expertise homelessness so far as articles of clothes go,” Reiss stated.  

He is aware of what it is wish to not have socks once you’re homeless. That is as a result of years in the past, he was of their footwear, hooked on medication and dwelling on the streets.  

Now Reiss helps folks like Phillip Marquez. Initially from Kentucky, Marquez has been dwelling on the streets of San Francisco for 3 years. He informed KPIX the toughest half was getting used to the chilly.  

“Even in the midst of summer time, I get chilly at nighttime,” Marquez stated. “Principally you discover a spot the place you do not transfer, and the heat builds from there.” 

Which is why he seems to be ahead to Reiss and his visits. 

“It is the best and finest feeling you may get to placed on a pair of recent socks,” he stated. “It modifications the way in which you are feeling the way in which you stroll by the way in which you speak to folks.” 

As for Reiss, he is simply completely happy to have the ability to pay it ahead.  

“We make a distinction not solely of their lives but additionally in our lives,” he defined. “A few of us come from this surroundings and we all know how vital it’s to have a connection the place there looks like there’s none.” 

Folks fascinated about studying extra about Healers With out Borders and volunteering or making a donation to the nonprofit can go to the group’s web site.