Million Misfit Sock March Empowers World to Celebrate Differences and Take a Stand Against Bullying by Wearing Mismatched Socks for a Day
(PRWEB) October 22, 2013 -- Grab the perfect pair of misfit socks this Friday, October 25, 2013 and join in the Million Misfit Sock March, a grassroots empowerment movement that asks our world to wear mismatched socks for one day, with purpose, to celebrate differences and take a stand against bullying. This virtual March began last year in Boston and engaged schools, businesses and organizations from 45 states across the country, with the Girl Scouts even earning a patch for their participation and advocacy.
"At one time or another, we have all felt disenfranchised or unfairly judged, and usually it is because of our unique differences. No one is spared, it happens to everyone," said Karen Kiefer, founder of the misfit sock project. "Just like misfit socks individuals are cast aside, labeled, so the mission of the March is to empower individuals to celebrate what makes them different, connect with their inner misfit, and take a stand against bullying." Kiefer credits her daughters for the creation of the misfit sock project, because they believed those misfit socks on their laundry room floor were lost, lonely and had a greater purpose. Their plea, to find a way to make the misfit socks feel loved again, was the impetus for the start of a new family Christmas tradition and a decade later the release of a Christmas storybook, Misfit University online, the Misfit Sock Angels project and now the Million Misfit Sock March.
Anyone can participate in the Million Misfit Sock March, from anywhere, and everyone is encouraged to be creative and make a bold statement with their socks. Businesses, schools, organizations, churches can invite their communities to wear misfit socks, engage in fun misfit sock projects, and start a conversation about the importance of celebrating who you are and the crippling effects of being labeled, marginalized for whatever reason. Online supporters can post comments, share videos and pictures to the Million Misfit Sock March Facebook page.
The March is intentionally planned for Bullying Prevention Month and on the Friday before national "Make a Difference Day" so more schools and businesses can participate. There is no fee to participate in the March nor does the March raise money for a cause. It is an authentic empowerment movement designed to raise awareness, build community, inspire confidence, take a stand against bullying and make a statement with socks. This year, individuals and organizations in 50 states and 3 countries are expected to participate, including the rollout of thousands of new projects to celebrate the day.
For more information on the Million Misfit Sock March and other misfit sock projects, visit:http://www.themisfitsock.com, email: themisfitsock(at)gmail(dot)com or call 774-286-9987 or find on Facebook.com/millionmisfitsockmarch.
The Misfit Sock Project
One New England family found the true spirit of Christmas in a pile of misfit socks on their laundry room floor. In an effort to make sure the "misfit" socks felt complete and loved again, this family dressed up their misfit socks in their "Sunday best," filled them with candy, jingle bells, pine cones and holiday messages and offered them as gifts of hope, joy and peace to friends and family at Christmastime. A decade later, and thousands of misfit socks shared, that simple and powerful offering became the impetus for a new family Christmas tradition. This tradition includes the storybook, The Misfit Sock, beautifully illustrated by Belgian artist Kathy De Wit, which shares the tale of a sock who has lost its perfect match during the laundry cycle. That sock is instantly labeled a "misfit" and thrown into a misfit sock pile. Forgotten, marginalized and alone, the sock loses all hope until it meets the magnificent spirit of Christmas and is filled with meaning and purpose while being magically transformed into the perfect gratitude sock to thank Santa, his elves and reindeer. A child can follow the strong themes of : Love, Hope, Joy, Inspiration and Gratitude.
In addition to the storybook, young children can practice the misfit sock tradition by owning a one-of-a-kind misfit sock to love, hang on the mantel and fill with daily hand-written Misfit Sock WISH cards, leading up to Christmas. One Christmas Eve, the sock is filled with gratitude goodies for Santa. When Santa arrives, he enjoys the goodies, reads all of the child's WISHES for the season and knows enough to leave the sock behind for next year and the tradition begins.
The Misfit Sock Christmas Gift Set is sold through the website and at selected Follett stores nationally. The project is supported by companion projects, including Misfit University online, the Million Misfit Sock March against bullying and the Misfit Sock Angels service project.
© 2013 Happy Hollow Publishing
Call us:
774-286-9987
Discover: http://www.themisfitsock.com
Karen Kiefer, The Misfit Sock, http://www.themisfitsock.com, +1 774-286-9987, [email protected]
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