GIVING BACK: Hal Sadler’s mission to uplift the homeless

Nothing Stops the Sock Man

Hal Sadler is back in action, warming feet and hearts of homeless

Story & Photos by Christine Van Tuyl

Hal Sadler has only been out of the hospital for two weeks. Doctors amputated his right leg after he su ered complications from the 187 parachute jumps he made for the U.S. Army. But he’s not sitting at home, feeling sorry for himself. He’s right back in action, passing out new socks to warm the feet — and hearts — of the homeless.

Meet Hal Sadler, the San Diego Sock Man.

Sadler, 57, lives over the bridge but he attends church at Graham Memorial. In fact, he counts many of the folks in its congregation among his very best friends. He says the fourmonth stay in the VA hospital was brutal, but now that he’s out, he can’t wait to start helping others.

Every Sunday, unsheltered San Diegans line up at First Presbyterian Church on Date and 3rd downtown. They come for a free meal, a worship service and new, warm socks from Hal Sadler, the San Diego Sock Man.

Sadler holds up brand new socks from Bombas, the apparel company that has sponsored Sadler for the last two years.

“When I’m helping others, I’m helping myself,” says Sadler. “It’s humbling to remember that there are other people with other problems. Helping others gets me out of my own head.”

Sadler, who hands out socks every Sunday around 1:00 pm at First Presbyterian Church on 3rd and Date in downtown San Diego, says that the homeless situation seems worse than before. He says there are a lot more people, and they are more desperate. But he hopes that by setting a good example, he can inspire positive change.

“I believe that I am making a di erence,” says Sadler. “And I am an example of what it means to show up for others. I try not to judge them. A lot of people are down and out, and it’s my job to let them know there is hope.”

After all, Sadler — a native of Tupelo, Mississippi — was once one of them. Twelve years ago, he lived on the streets next to the Four Points Sheraton o the 5 freeway. The only things he owned were a cardboard box and a crack pipe. He wasn’t planning on getting sober back in December 2010 when a benefactor took him in, let him use his shower and gave him clean clothes and a pair of new socks. Sadler says the socks changed his life.

He says a feeling of warmth went up his legs that he has never forgotten.

“I will never forget how warm I felt,” says Sadler. “And that’s why I’m doing it for these people, to return the exact same dream, and hopefully mimic the love that was shown to me, with just a pair of socks.”

Sadler says that despite his mobility challenges, he hopes to be down at First Presbyterian every Sunday. Fortunately for Sadler, he has a small crew of dedicated friends who lend him a hand.

Herman Harring read about Sadler in The San Diego UnionTribune a couple of years ago. He was inspired by the story of a man who was once homeless and earned about $1000 a month, spending $100 of it on new socks. According to experts, socks are one of the few items that donation sites will not accept used, no matter how clean. But socks are essential because the homeless spend much of their time on their feet, often walking miles each day.

Harring decided to reach out to Sadler and the two have been close ever since. Harring is there every weekend, setting up the table and handing out socks with Sadler.

“I thought, wow, here’s a guy who was once homeless, and he’s spending his time out here, handing out socks that he buys with his own money,” says Harring. “This guy could really teach me something.”

Soon after, an apparel company called Bombas decided to sponsor Sadler and supply him with brand-new socks, so he doesn’t have to buy them anymore.

Sadler says it’s been a long journey and now, with his limited mobility, he faces more challenges than ever before. He reflects back on his time

in the hospital and is grateful for the love and care he received from the medical sta . Although he didn’t love the food, he admits, at least it was “better than prison.”

Sadler said one of the biggest silver linings of his hospital stay was to remember that he isn’t the only one su ering problems.

“I thought I had a problem until I met a guy in the hospital that didn’t have any legs,” says Sadler. “I was really in my head, sort of losing it, and the initial shock of not being able to walk and move, and being in pain. Then I met a guy that had no legs, and he was all down and out, but I was able to encourage him and give him a prayer.”

It’s the same sort of prayer that Sadler passes out to the homeless. He says he wants to give them more than socks; he wants to give them hope.

Sadler has to spend more time o his feet, but he still manages a smile, spreading his message of hope.

“I was the worst-case scenario, and look at me now,” he says with a smile, beside his table, handing out another pair of socks. “If I can get out, so can they. Maybe one of these people will be here, handing out socks.”

Sadler says he’s gathering much of his inspiration from his friends and his church at Graham Memorial. He also enjoys getting out in Coronado when he can, grabbing a drink from Coronado Co ee Company at the Ferry Landing or some BBQ at Lil’ Piggies. Another favorite? Spiro's Gyros.

“Oh, that place is good,” laughs Sadler. “Oh yes…they know me over at Spiro's.”

Sadler says he wants to continue to show the homeless of San Diego that they are loved. He asks the residents of Coronado to keep them in their prayers.

“It’s a lot of hurt, pain and su ering. And these people, they need any love that they can get,” says Sadler, now serious. “Please pray for them. Keep them uplifted.”

According to Sadler, the homeless problem is getting worse, and the people are getting more desperate.

Sadler chats with a good friend in Coronado on a Sunday afteroon. He says he gets his inspiration from friends and his church.

• Christine Van Tuyl is a freelance writer who lives in Coronado with her husband and two children.