KINGMAN, Ariz. – The Sock-tober campaign at Kingman Regional Medical Center (KRMC) collected more than 2,200 pairs of socks for distribution to homeless shelters throughout the Kingman area.
The community outreach effort is organized by the hospital’s Nutrition Services Department, operated by Morrison Healthcare Food Service Group, in partnership with the KRMC Foundation. This year, organizers added a friendly competition among hospital departments to encourage participation.
“We are Morrison Healthcare Food Service Group. We are partnering with KRMC Foundation, and we are doing a sock drive,” said Nutrition Services Director Morgan Jonseck. “This year, I made it a department challenge, so different departments throughout the hospital are all kind of racing against each other to see who can get the most socks donated from their department. But the whole goal here is that these socks are for our homeless shelters in town.”
While socks may seem like a simple item, shelter providers say they are among the most needed items and one of the least frequently donated. Jonseck said the response from hospital employees far exceeded expectations.
“Last year when we donated to Cornerstone Mission, and that was awesome, it was over 500 pairs, but now, because we had such a great contribution, we will be able to donate to four different shelters,” Jonseck said.
Hospital employees donated nearly five times as many socks as were collected during the inaugural campaign. Jonseck credited much of the success to the enthusiasm generated by the interdepartmental competition.
“This is a really wonderful place to work and be,” she said. “I really appreciated that I started hearing some of the unit directors saying things like ‘we really decorated our collection box’ or ‘we’re going to beat you.’ They’re really getting into it and that’s the whole point, right? It’s supposed to be fun.”
The Nutrition Services Department with the most employees, captured the departmental title with 790 pairs of socks collected. However, one employee-led effort stood out from all others.
David Kent and his mother, Kari, used personal donations and online outreach to generate 320 pairs of socks, the largest individual contribution recorded during the campaign.
“I was surprised that we almost got the overall record but pleased we got the record for a single donation,” Kent said. “I’m happy to help out charities and help out the people who need help. It’s great. I’m glad that socks are going to go to people that need it and help them get a let up.”
With more than 2,200 pairs of socks collected, organizers say the success of the 2026 Sock-tober campaign will provide much-needed assistance to multiple shelter providers serving those in need throughout the Kingman area.
Allen Scott
