Wellington-based advertising creative, Chris Childerhouse, has single-handedly kick-started a campaign that lends a hand, or rather a sock, to Ukraine.
The fundraising effort ‘Send Our Socks’ asks for donations that will help distribute hardy New Zealand wool socks to the people in war-torn Ukraine currently suffering through a bitterly cold winter.
“In parts of the country, temperatures get as low as negative 20 degrees, and with the Ukrainian electricity network largely destroyed, it’s even harder for people to stay warm,” says Childerhouse.
Childerhouse devised his Send Our Socks solution in response to an acute feeling of helplessness concerning the catastrophe in Ukraine.
“New Zealand isn’t in the position to send arms like other countries, but I knew there would still be something tangible we could do to help. That’s when I realised that sheep, which famously outnumber our people, could be our answer.”
Childerhouse partnered with Mahi for Ukraine, a humanitarian group advocating for immigration, sanctions and aid, to help work out the logistics of sending socks to the people that need them.
It costs $20,000 to get a pallet of socks over to Ukraine – each pallet containing one thousand pairs. The wool used to produce the socks is sourced from The New Zealand Sock Company, a Kiwi business local to Ashburton, who were happy to jump on board to support the cause.
Childerhouse has extended his campaign an extra week, in the hopes that even more New Zealanders (and companies) will show their support. Currently, the SOS Givealittle page sits at just over $20,000, Chris’s ultimate goal is to achieve $60,000 in donations as that would enable SOS to get 3,000 socks on the ground in Ukraine.
“I’m so grateful for the donations that SOS has received from generous Kiwis already, particularly in light of cyclone Gabrielle. And I hope our SOS call continues to resonate further with those who are in a position to support our cause,” says Childerhouse.
Donations to Send Our Socks here, and if your business is interested in getting involved, email [email protected].
