After their son, Lance Cpl. Donald Hogan, was killed in Afghanistan in 2009, Jim and Carla Hogan found comfort in his friends from 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment.
According to Military Times, the couple wanted to give back to the soldiers who showed them kindness as they dealt with grief. When they asked what they could possibly send overseas to show their gratitude, the answer was overwhelming – socks, socks and more socks. Soldiers are required to purchase their own socks before deployment, and after being overseas for a while they tend to run low on their supply.
After personally buying a number of socks for these servicemembers, the Hogans founded Socks for Heroes, a nonprofit dedicated to their cause, noted the source. Since the couple began this initiative, they have helped send over 330,000 pairs of socks overseas to two Marine Infantry Battalions, many Marine Support Units and Army Units.
According to the organization's Facebook page, the group partners with retailers to cheaply provide large amounts of black and brown socks to soldiers. Socks for Heroes is located out of San Clemente, California, and is always looking for volunteers and donations.