Podiatrists Kick Off "Socks for the Needy" Campaign at Area YMCAs

The Rhode Island Podiatric Medical Association have kicked-off a "Socks for the Needy" campaign, which starts March 31 and will run through May.

The goal of the campaign is to collect new socks for needy children and adults — something desperately needed throughout all of Rhode Island.

“Podiatrists have long recognized the high incidence of foot conditions among the needy and homeless as their feet are often wet and they lack dry clean socks to wear.” said Dr. David Ruggiero, president of the RIPMA. "Our association thought a community outreach campaign like this was the perfect fit for podiatrists as we enter our anniversary year, providing foot health for Rhode Islanders for over a hundred years.  We give particular thanks to the YMCAs in Rhode Island, the Salvation Army and the Pawtucket Red Sox for participating as partners in our community service project.”

Collection bins will be set up at YMCAs across Rhode Island as well as area podiatrist offices.

Donating a pair of socks gets you entered in a contest to win one of ten family packs of tickets and vouchers for food for the PawSox game on June 12, which will be known as "Sox for the Needy" night.

And if you bring a pair of sox to the game that night, you'll be entered in a raffle to win a signed baseball from the team.

In addition, on April 26, free foot screenings will be available at the Pawtucket, Lincoln, Bayside and Kent County YMCAs. On May 10, screenings will be held at the Cranston, East Side and South County YMCAs. They'll run from 10 a.m. to noon and noon to 2 p.m.

“This is the first in a series of activities for our 100th anniversary. We plan to issue foot health briefs and tips throughout April and May as part of National Foot Health Month and our centennial celebration.  We will also be honoring a member from the community and a podiatrist who have gone above and beyond to support foot health in Rhode Island at our annual conference in Newport, RI in May.”  Cavicchio said.

The Rhode Island Podiatric Medical Association is a non-profit organization that promotes the art and science of podiatric medicine and surgery among the general public and persons interested in the betterment of public health.  Foot health information and a podiatrist locator can be found on their website at www.rifootdoctors.com or you can call for information at 401.941.1142.  The RIPMA is affiliated with the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA).