A 7-year-old Jacksonville boy’s program to give socks to those in need is close to hitting a landmark goal of 5,000 pairs collected in three years.
Kellon Oldenettel, the son of Michael and Lori Oldenettel, had collected 4,881 pairs of socks as of this week, when he unpacked bags of socks on a table, getting everything organized for distribution.
He said this year that he was exceptionally grateful for the socks his friends had helped him collect.
“My friends at my school collected 238 pairs of socks to help me give away,” he said with a smile. Kellon attends Salem Lutheran School.
Through his initiative, called Kellon’s Sock Drawer, he distributes socks to different locations throughout the winter — including elementary schools, New Directions Warming and Cooling Center, Beecher High Rise, and The Salvation Army.
Kellon has taken up donations from friends, family and community members to keep the sock program going. His mother said Kellon has received gifts from as far as Germany.
As Kellon gets more socks, he also has received more requests than ever. During a giveaway Wednesday, the line for The Salvation Army’s commodity distribution and Kellon’s sock distribution stretched out nearly a block in front of the West Douglas Avenue building.
Lori Oldenettel said each person can get a pair of new socks in addition to as many gently used socks as they would like.
“Kellon wouldn’t be able to donate all these socks without friends living in Jacksonville and friends throughout the United States,” she said. “This is the first year we’ve been able to distribute the socks before the cold weather. Now socks are coming in year round, so we’ve been distributing them since October, November.”
Drop off sites are set up at Farmers State Bank and Trust, Community State Bank in Franklin, Bright Beginnings Day Care, Re/Max Results Plus, Re/Max Professionals in Springfield, Perma Bound Books, the Hampton Inn, the Jacksonville Journal-Courier, Pizzazz Hair Design and Massage, and The Physical Therapists Clinic.
Kellon’s 4-year-old brother, Beckham, also collects children’s books to give away, which can be donated at the same locations.
