The Socks for Lansing program was initiated by Sarah Garner, who wanted to find out what the residents of the City Rescue Mission of Lansing needed the most. The answer was warm feet.

Garner then pitched the idea to her boss at Rizzi Designs, Rochelle Rizzi, and the concept behind Socks for Lansing was born.

Rizzi Designs also reached out to MSU’s Impact 89FM to help promote the issue and the sock collection drive.

“Not only does it raise socks, but it (raises) awareness,” Garner said.

The project goal was to collect between 500 and 1,000 socks. However, Socks for Lansing surpassed the goal with a collection of more than 1,000 socks.

“It was a great success in gaining traction for (City Rescue Mission) to have someone else talking about (City Rescue Mission’s) needs,” Rizzi said.

In early December, Rizzi said she packed her van to the top with donated socks and dropped them off at the City Rescue Mission.

Because of the donations, the shelter now has a surplus of socks to get through the winter months, said Tiffany Wilkinson, director of women’s and children’s ministry at the City Rescue Mission.

When the socks were delivered, City Rescue Mission’s staff began sorting the socks into categories for men, women and children.

Wilkinson said the shelter even had Gov. Rick Snyder sort some of the socks when he came in to volunteer in December.

“I really do appreciate the effort they put together and the generosity of the community who participated,” Wilkinson said.

Rizzi said Rizzi Designs is striving to continue to collect socks in the future.

“It’s just an amazing feat,” Rizzi said. “No pun intended.”