When You Think of Socks

Feb 18, 2025


Beloved ~                                      
          Sometimes I drop an ice cube.  Sometimes Birdy comes in with wet paws.  Sometimes she decides not to swallow her last lap of water and just dribbles it across the kitchen floor.  However the floor got wet, nothing ruins my cozy vibe more than stepping in water in my sock feet.  I hate it!  And I have to change immediately, even if the wet ones are clean.  I hang them in the laundry room and start over.
          Birdy has snowy paws every time she comes inside right now; sometimes she even has little ice nuggets between her toe pads.  And she only goes outside for a few minutes a few times a day.  Our neighbors without housing stay outdoors all day and sometimes all night too, which is why one volunteer task on the check-in shift at the Bloomington Severe Weather Shelter is asking every guest if they need dry socks and trading them for the wet ones they’ve worn for hours, sometimes days.
          We go through lots of socks!  And I’ve seen a lot of frostbite this winter, frostbite contracted over years of living outdoors and some of it not so very old.  One man has lost several fingers, but mostly it’s gray ruined skin on fingers and toes, hands and feet.  Which is why shelter volunteers are forever on the hunt for cheap or free warm adult size socks.  On nights after snowy or rainy days, volunteers easily give away a dozen or more pairs.
          Not just socks, of course; we are once again in the midst of more than a week of very cold temperatures with rain and snow too.  Our usual food bank sources are extremely low on stock and B-SWERS’ own snack supply pantry is almost bare.  I’ve added the list of things below that are desperately needed, should you want to help.
          Connection and care.  In the daily transactions of our lives, connection and care are what we most want for ourselves and what we most want to give one another.  Socks and snacks, time and attention.  Seeing and being seen as human beings who want to be safe and loved, neither afraid nor mistreated, neglected nor invisible.  As you navigate the winter outside your door, I pray you make time for good self-care alongside good care and connection with your neighbors who are hoping for our kindness.

~peace & prayers,
pastor annette

B-SWERS Wish List ~ I have created an Amazon Wish List here.  If you don’t shop at Amazon, no worries.  Most items are available at other stores, and similar items are perfectly acceptable.  You can drop them off on my porch or at church; or if you’re using Amazon, ship directly to UBC, 3740 E. 3rd Street, Bloomington, IN 47401.
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/KBMKVLCFK3O9?ref_=wl_share