Q&A
THE CHARITY KEEPING PEOPLE WARM At just eight years old, Benjy Orwin started a sock charity. His mission was simple: help others. Benjy could never have imagined how big an impact he would soon make. I don’t exactly know anything else about them other than they’re warm and comfy to wear.
Collecting socks and donating them to those in need is continually one of the greatest highlights in Benjy’s life. Benjy felt that socks are a staple clothing item and that everyone should have access to warm clothes, especially during cold winter nights. And so Socks 4 Support was started, and young Benjy has been admired throughout media outlets the country over, for his big heart and impact on others. WHERE AND WHEN DID SOCKS 4 SUPPORT START? I was walking home on a cold Friday night wearing a beanie and jacket and I was freezing. I thought to myself, how are the people who don’t have warm clothes feeling? You see, my family and I were huddled in our woolly jackets and beanies, trying to keep warm. I asked my parents why. They told me: it’s sad, because these people are freezing outside and there aren’t many people who try and help them. When I heard this, I decided that I wanted to help those people. I decided to collect socks because I felt that they are a really important item of clothing. However, not many people think socks are important enough to donate. WHAT SORT OF SOCKS DO YOU ACCEPT AS DONATIONS? I accept both new and second-hand pairs of socks, but second-hand pairs have to be in good condition.
8
AusBiz.
The socks also have to be paired, preferably with a matching sock. WHERE SHOULD PEOPLE GO IF THEY WANT TO DONATE? People can send me an email at donateyoursocks@gmail.com and I can tell them where to send the socks. I also have a box at MP David Southwick’s office. People can also follow me on my Instagram page and see what I do with the socks. I want to start a Socks 4 Support website but I haven’t made it yet. WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE PAIR OF SOCKS THAT YOU OWN? I think my favourite pair that I own is a greyish pair of socks with blue stripes.
EIGHT YEARS OF AGE IS SO YOUNG TO START A CHARITY, DID YOU EVER HAVE ANY DOUBT ABOUT WHETHER YOU COULD DO IT? I could tell that people were doubtful about Socks 4 Support. When I held my first talk at the school assembly I announced that I had a goal of 5000 pairs. At the time, I had a collection of 21 pairs. I was determined to prove everyone wrong. By the end of that year, I had collected 5026 pairs of socks, and right now I am sitting on around 25,886 pairs of socks over a period of four years. WHAT HAVE BEEN SOME LESSONS YOU’VE LEARNED ALONG THE WAY? I’ve learned that you can accomplish anything when you set your mind on something. When I started Socks 4 Support, I had no idea that I would ever be able to get on to things like the radio or the TV. I think another important thing I’ve learned is that you have to dedicate yourself to your charity or project, as you’ll never get anywhere if you don’t put in the time and effort. And one last thing, age does not make a difference to success, only hard work has that kind of important impact.
