REGINA, Sask. — As Saskatchewan prepares for another long, cold winter, a campaign built around something many people take for granted is celebrating 10 years of helping keep vulnerable residents warm.
The Toasty Toes Sock Drive, organized by the Chiropractors' Association of Saskatchewan in partnership with The Salvation Army, is marking its 10th anniversary this fall. Since launching in 2016, the campaign has collected nearly 143,000 pairs of socks for people experiencing homelessness and financial hardship.
What began as an effort inspired by a similar campaign in Alberta has grown into a provincewide initiative, with chiropractic clinics serving as donation drop-off points in communities across Saskatchewan.
“It started back in 2016, and at that time, our neighbours next door in Alberta were doing a similar initiative,” said Tracy Bertram, executive director of the Chiropractors' Association of Saskatchewan. “Chiropractors here thought, you know, this would be a great opportunity to get involved and meet a need in our communities.”
That need remains significant, particularly as temperatures drop and people without stable housing face the challenges of staying warm and dry.
Bertram said socks are consistently among the most requested items by shelters, but they are often overlooked when people donate clothing and other essentials.
“Saskatchewan winters can be quite harsh,” she said. “In speaking with the Salvation Army and those who serve those in need, they say a warm pair of socks is just so comforting and something that, again, is not always provided when people make donations to a shelter.”
For someone spending long hours outside or walking through snow and slush, a clean, dry pair can make a difference to their health and comfort. Wet socks can contribute to blisters, skin problems and other foot conditions, while cold, damp feet increase the risks that come with exposure to winter weather.
Captain Kath Walker, executive director of The Salvation Army Regina Centre of Hope, said the value of a fresh pair of socks goes beyond simply keeping someone's feet warm.
“One of the best things you can give them is a pair of fresh, clean socks,” Walker said. “It's one of those basic things that we all take for granted that improves how you feel, it improves how you present yourself, and it meets a basic need.”
Walker said the donations also help people feel better about themselves during difficult circumstances.
“It's a small thing that goes a long way in helping people feel better about themselves and move forward in their life,” she said.
The partnership also helps ensure donations reach people throughout the year, rather than only during the holiday season.
In Regina, collected socks are delivered to The Salvation Army's Waterston House and distributed through Christmas hampers, shelters and other programs. The organization also shares donations with community partners, including agencies supporting women and people accessing warming centres.
“We're able to help our community, who serves this population, provide supplies,” Walker said. “So the generosity helps us to be even more generous with our community partners.”
In smaller Saskatchewan communities, participating chiropractors deliver donations directly to their local Salvation Army centres, helping keep the support close to home.
The 2026 campaign began Oct. 1 and continues until Nov. 30. Residents can donate new socks for men, women and children at participating chiropractic clinics. Both store-bought and hand-knitted socks are welcome.
Bertram said the association hopes its 10th anniversary will bring its biggest collection yet, building on the generosity that has kept the campaign growing.
“We seem to be picking up more steam as we go, so I think people are expecting it every year now,” she said.
She urged residents to pick up an extra pair while shopping and bring it to a participating clinic.
“It's not too hard for many of us to just pick up a pair of socks,” Bertram said. “We thought that'd be a great opportunity to meet that need for people in our communities.”
After a decade of donations, she said the campaign's success belongs to the clinics, volunteers, schools, non-profits and residents who continue to take part.
For Walker, that ongoing support means The Salvation Army can count on having an essential item ready when someone needs it.
“It's one thing we don't have to think about,” she said. “We don't have to think about, do we have socks to offer people? Because we always have them, and we only have it because of their work and them setting this up and their continued work in this project.”
