Nov. 26--In a rotten recession, it will be the small things that make the biggest difference this holiday season.

It's a simple formula: The smaller the act, the more people can join in. Together we create a solid, widespread effect. Seeing success inspires us to go for it again and again until finding small ways to achieve big changes becomes a way of life.

In this year of reduced circumstances, let socks be our symbol of small victories. Let's start by giving them to strangers.

Welcome to The News Tribune's sixth annual sock drive.

Here's the premise: Without dry socks, life is miserable from the ground up. One person giving just one pair can change that for another human being. That's real power.

No, a new (or very gently used) $2 pair of poly-and-wool-blend socks will not walk someone off the street and into a new life of health, sobriety and full-time work. But it will help prevent frostbite and foot rot. Who, if they could do that for another person, would choose not to?

Six years ago, Welton Wesley put it this way: "Socks are like gold." Wesley runs security and the clothing bank at Catholic Community Services' Hospitality Kitchen, which offers warmth, help and hot meals to people with few other options.

"Unfortunately, our population has grown," Wesley said Monday. "We are dealing with not only a growing male population, but our female population is exploding. It's up 20 percent or more."

He's seeing people who are utterly unprepared for life without a real home. They're the breath and bone behind bloodless terms like "economic downturn," "market correction," "layoff" and "right-sizing."

They need toiletries, feminine pads and tampons, blankets, second-hand coats, new underwear and socks, socks, socks.

As he has done in past drives, Wesley will share with Nativity House, the Metropolitan Development Council, Guadalupe House and the two downtown Tacoma shelters.

While those agencies deal mainly with individuals, Phoenix Housing Network gets families into emergency and transitional housing. It connects them with the training and services they need to stabilize after the trauma of losing their home.

Executive director Alan Brown is seeing more need and is broadening the search for donations.

It's a joy, he said, when previous big donors come through again.

"We just got a big donation from Zumiez -- coats, hats, gloves and five bales of wool blankets," he said of the Washington retailer and regular donor. "It's always more than we can use for our clients, so we distribute it out."

That leaves toothpaste, soap, deodorant, diapers, feminine products, baby bottles, diapers and diaper wipes on the hot sheet, as well as new underwear and socks for women and children. Cotton is fine, Brown said. The families at Phoenix and related agencies have shelter.

With them, he said, the thought really does count.

"I think any time people who are homeless and feeling isolated get that touch of kindness from the community, it lets them know they are not as alone as they feel they are," he said.

The need doesn't stop at Tacoma's city limits.

Ellie Ottey has volunteered the Pierce County Housing Authority's offices as a drop spot for hats, gloves, new underwear and poly-and-wool socks. Last year, they came in by the shopping-cart load, and went out to agencies just as fast, Ottey said.

Every single pair of those socks put a layer of warmth and comfort between the recipient and the ground.

This year, that ground is harder and colder than ever.

Kathleen Merryman: 253-597-8677

kathleen.merryman@thenewstribune.com

Drop-off sites

--Hospitality Kitchen, 1323 S. Yakima Ave., Tacoma, 253-383-3697; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays

--Phoenix Housing Network, 7050 S. G St., Tacoma, 253-471-5340; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays

--Pierce County Housing Authority, 603 S. Polk St., near South 112th and C streets, Parkland, 253-620-5427; 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays

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