For many area kids, pulling on a pair of clean dry socks is part of the normal daily routine.

But for others, that’s not the case.

To help those young people who don’t always have a pair of socks, the Community Health Center of Fort Dodge and Shimkat Motor Co. are teaming up once again for the 12th annual Socks for the Sole campaign.

New socks and money to buy socks are being accepted at Shimkat Motor Co.

“We match pair for pair,” said TJ Pingel, general manager of the car dealership.

He explained that Shimkat Motor Co. will buy a pair of socks for every pair that is donated. He added that the dealership will also use donated money to buy socks and then buy additional socks to match every pair purchased with the donated money.

“Shimkat collects the socks and matches the community’s donations,” said Regina Suhrbier, the outreach coordinator for the Community Health Center. “We then sort and distribute the socks to kids in need of them.”

White and black crew and ankle socks are the types most needed, but socks of any color will be accepted.

The socks will be distributed during a Back to School Block Party set for 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 9 in the parking lot behind the Community Health Center, 126 N. 10th St.

Shimkat Motor Co. has been part of the Socks for the Sole effort since its beginning.

“We’ve always kind of been a big partner with Community Health Center,” Pingel said. “We like to give back to the community.”

He estimated that thousands of socks have been collected in the first 11 years of the effort. He said 2019 was the biggest year so far for sock donations.

“We literally had the socks falling out of a Jeep on the showroom floor,” he said.

Shimkat Motor Co. also partners with the Community Health Center for the Coats for Kids effort, which gathers coats and other winter wear for children in need of those items.

How to help

New socks and donations to pay for new socks are now being accepted at Shimkat Motor Co, 2126 Fifth Ave. S.

Donations will be accepted during business hours. The dealership is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.

Socks are initially being collected in a hamper in the showroom. As donated socks accumulate, they will be put in a vehicle.

Donations will be accepted through Aug. 1.