For the youth experiencing homelessness who enjoyed the Nov. 24 Thanksgiving dinner at The Night Ministry's Lake View shelter The Crib, there was an extra serving and it was one that had some of them literally screaming with happiness.
Chicago activist, volunteer and organizer Abby Minton alongside her wife Dahlia Odishoo delivered dozens of brand new packets of socks to the shelter having raised close to $1,000 with which to buy them while over 300 pairs were donated in their third annual sock drive.
It was an idea that began for Minton while she was riding on the CTA.
"I was on the Blue Line three years ago, around this time and this guy I was talking with showed me his hands and feet which were black and purple from frost bite," she said. "So I started reading about what the homeless needed and socks were the number one item."
According to Minton, once she launched her sock drive, businesses from all over the city were happy to get involved.
Odishoo's co-workers were able to come up with 205 pairs in a single week.
"We keep socks in the car which we hand out all through the city throughout the winter," Odishoo said.
"When you walk around all day long, socks are the things you need the most," Crib Program Coordinator Devin Redmond noted. "Having a fresh pair of socks is super valuable for comfort and health."
Redmond was expecting a full house of 21 youth at the shelter by the end of the evening. Admission is determined by lottery and it is horrendously difficult for The Crib's staff to have to turn people away.
"They're here because they want to be here and they feel safe," Redmond said. "We don't ask any questions. We don't tell other people who are in here."
"They'll start crying sometimes," Night Ministry Youth Worker Ashley Bosco added. "They wish they could always come here and we wish we had the space and the resources to let them."
"The two reasons I see the most youth here are family disputes," she said. "Communication barriers between youth and their parents or roommates or because they were living with a partner who turned abusive. It's always a painful thing for them when they come and ask for a place to sleep for the night."
In a country divided in bitterness and with undocumented youth now fearing deportation, it is possible The Crib will see even greater numbers at their doors hoping for at least one night's comfort even from a surrounding neighborhood that would prefer they were removed from sight.
Bosco asserted that a lot of the youth watched the results of the Nov. 8 election with great concern. Redmond said that 75 percent of them voted.
"They've been afraid, they've been disappointed," Bosco said. "On the night of the election, they were begging us to update the screen."
"On the flipside of that, they're also super resilient," Redmond added. "They are used to having to deal with external circumstances that are bad for them. They are always smiling and laughing here.
The smiles and laughter resounded through The Crib at the sight of the socks Minton and Odishoo delivered.
It was a Thanksgiving which truly lived up to its name.
Redmond had some advice for those thinking of following the couple's lead and donating items to The Crib.
"Underwear, deodorant, razors, shaving cream, pajama pants, wash cloths, bus cards, gift cards, back packs, towels; these are things we can never really get enough of," he said.
For more information on the sock drive, go to YouCaring.com/homelessinchicago-684944. For more information on The Night Ministry and The Crib, go to TheNightMinistry.org/001_programs/040_youth_services/030_youth_housing/040_the_crib .
