Rock For Socks: Supporting the homeless with music and warmth
Socks are for the feet what music is for the soul: a source of warmth when life throws you out into the cold.
The Rock for Socks December 12 benefit concert hopes to provide two Toronto homeless shelters with their most needed and least donated commodity for the winter: socks.
Coverage of the event will highlight how up-and-coming bands such as The Lad Classic want to use their talents and passion for music to support this cause while spreading similar events to other Canadian cities.
Half a dozen indie bands and solo artists will be performing at Junction City Music Hall to support The Yonge Street Mission and Covenant House. Blue Rodeo is lending a hand by donating tickets and other special memorabilia for one of their upcoming performances that will be auctioned off throughout the night.
“Rock for Socks is about bringing awareness to the needs of the homeless by way of music, a universal language that provides thought provoking experiences and always seems to bring people together,” said Rob McAfee, a former musician turned IT consultant. McAfee decided to pair music with sock donations when he saw a post on Facebook of a homeless man holding a placard stating: “Socks are the most needed but least donated article of clothing in homeless shelters.”
Rock For Socks launched last year at the Drake Hotel and The Horseshoe Tavern. But this year’s enthusiastic support from Q107’s John Derringer, who has been announcing the event daily on his morning show and Blue Rodeo’s participation, highlight the importance of this cause and how people can use their talents to do something proactive for the homeless.
Solo artists include TimeGiant drummer Charlie McKittrick who will be showing his softer side as he shares some of his folk stylings.
Q107 is supporting the event and The Great Canadian Sox Company has donated 100 pairs of socks. NBA TV and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment commentator Kat Stefankiewicz will be the MC for the night.
Admission is $10.00 and a pair of unused socks.
The article will provide a voice for a homeless person who has benefited from sock donations. Rock For Socks is scheduled for a repeat performance in January 2016, at The Rivoli.
Article by Brian Moskowitz who graduated from Western’s journalism program in 2011 and has worked in Saskatoon, London and Toronto for publications such as Metro News, The London Free Press and Edmonton Journal, among others.
