Pre-schoolers from the East Lycoming YMCA are Clynt Oden, age 4, and Audry Aiken, age 5, both from Muncy who helped to distribute the 'Socks for Seniors' this year. They and their classmates spread holiday cheer by delivering the socks to residents at Muncy Skilled Nursing Unit and the Meck Senior Center.

MUNCY – This year for the first time, the YMCA in Muncy Township set up a Christmas tree in the front lobby for members and children to donate socks for seniors. Karen Bower, who organized the giving tree, said she read an article in the daily paper about Socks For Seniors and how the organization began in 2002 in a nursing home from Columbus, Ohio. “It really moved me,” Bower said and decided to start one at the local Y. “It broke my heart to read that seniors have cold feet.” So instead of decorating the annual tree with balls, this year Bower wanted to give back to the community.

They started collecting the socks on Saturday after Thanksgiving, and so far 175 socks have been distributed to seniors. A lot of them are “fun socks” and seniors really appreciate them according to Bower.

Pre-schoolers from the Y’s Day care center delivered the socks to the seniors at the Meck Senior Center, and they are still collecting them according to Bower. “Everyone here donated socks,” added Bower. The children also visited the Muncy Skilled Nursing Unit on December 11 where they sang songs and chatted with some of the residents while they distributed the socks. They will also be visiting Valley View in Loyalsock Township on December 20.

The children will continue to spread their holiday cheer by singing Christmas carols and joining the seniors as each receives a pair of new socks to keep their feet warm during the winter months.