SOCKtober: A Conversation with Xavier "Javi" Swinarski

Summary

SOCktober: A Conversation with Xavier "Javi" Swinarski

Episode Release Date: July 12, 2025
Host: Jay Frost
Produced by: Jack Frost
Powered by: DonorSearch

---

Introduction

In this compelling episode of The PM Podcast, host Jay Frost engages in an inspiring conversation with Xavier "Javi" Swinarski, a junior at Gilmore Academy and a recipient of the 2025 William R. Sims Award for Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy. Javi's remarkable journey in philanthropy began in fourth grade and has since grown into the annual SOCktober sock drive, which has collected and distributed over 60,000 pairs of socks to those in need. Recorded live at Icon AFP's international conference in Seattle, Washington, this episode delves deep into Javi’s motivations, challenges, and aspirations.

---

Javi’s Early Beginnings and Motivation

Javi Swinarski’s dedication to philanthropy was sparked during a fourth-grade religious trip to John Carroll University, where he participated in making blankets for the homeless. This experience opened his eyes to the specific needs of the homeless community, particularly the high demand for socks.

Javi Swinarski [04:07]: "They were talking about, like, the most requested items and why it's important. Important to, like, take care of these people. And I remember they were saying the most one of the most requested items were socks."

Intrigued by this revelation, Javi consulted with his parents and school officials to initiate a sock drive, marking the birth of SOCktober. What started as a modest effort collecting 500 pairs of socks has now expanded exponentially, demonstrating the profound impact one young individual can have on the community.

---

The Evolution of SOCktober

Over the past eight years, SOCktober has evolved from a simple school project into a significant charitable movement. Each October, Javi mobilizes classmates, local businesses, churches, and national partners to collect and distribute socks to various homeless shelters and disaster victims.

Javi Swinarski [02:46]: "We collected about 60,000 just from a rough estimate, but pretty much the drive is just... we collect socks for the homeless, and then once those two weeks are over, we donate to places like the Michael Whitam Center, Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless, and other parishes or local shelters that need them."

In 2024 alone, SOCktober distributed over 22,000 pairs of socks, and in response to Hurricane Katrina, donated approximately 5,000 pairs to victims in North Carolina. This consistent growth underscores the initiative's scalability and the essential need it addresses.

---

Understanding the Importance of Socks

Javi emphasizes the critical role that socks play in the lives of the homeless, highlighting a deeper understanding that has grown over his years of involvement.

Javi Swinarski [05:37]: "I feel like socks are one of the key things of keeping you warm. I don't think people under three realize that... your feet are probably the closest to the floor. So they're probably gonna be the one, one of the parts of your body that are going to be most sensitive to temperature."

His insights reveal that beyond just providing warmth, socks help prevent more severe health issues related to prolonged exposure to cold, thereby offering a foundation for improving overall well-being among the homeless.

---

Personal Experiences and Impact

Javi shares poignant stories from his volunteer work, illustrating the tangible difference SOCktober makes in individuals' lives.

Javi Swinarski [08:54]: "They had like one queen size bed sheet left and they gave it to her. And you could just see it in the lady's eyes. Like she was so happy, she was so thankful. I'll never forget that story."

These narratives not only highlight the immediate benefits of the sock drive but also Javi's personal fulfillment derived from witnessing the gratitude and relief of those he helps.

---

Sustaining the Movement and Future Plans

As a junior at Gilmore Academy, Javi is already planning for the future of SOCktober beyond his time at school. He has successfully mentored a seventh-grader who will take over the drive, ensuring its continuity.

Javi Swinarski [12:05]: "She's gonna help me a lot this year so she can get the gist of it when I'm gone. And hopefully when that drive starts the year I'm gone, hopefully I can come back down for a day or two to announce it to them."

Looking ahead, Javi intends to pursue computer science in college, with interests in AI and software development. Despite these academic aspirations, he remains committed to philanthropy, anticipating continued involvement in charitable activities.

Javi Swinarski [13:44]: "I'd hope to do something even beyond college or at least like volunteer somewhere just for a short while to work. I just, I just hope people understand like, how important like these kind of things are."

---

Advice for Aspiring Changemakers

Javi offers valuable advice to young individuals eager to make a difference but uncertain about how to start.

Javi Swinarski [14:39]: "Ask your parents or guardians or any like any adult that you would think would be able to help with your questions or with like, your concerns or any way to start something up. Because I knew I wasn't going to be able to start on my own."

His guidance emphasizes the importance of seeking support and collaboration, reinforcing that impactful change often begins with a single, supported effort.

---

Conclusion

Javi Swinarski’s story is a testament to the profound impact that dedication and compassion can have on addressing community needs. From a young age, his initiative to collect socks has grown into a significant movement, providing essential support to the homeless and disaster victims alike. As he continues to inspire others, Javi exemplifies the spirit of proactive philanthropy and the enduring power of one individual to effect meaningful change.

---

Notable Quotes

• Javi Swinarski [00:00]: "As I've gotten older, I'm starting to realize, like, more and more how important this actually is."

• Javi Swinarski [06:57]: "I want to collect socks for the homeless. So that first year, it was two weeks, and we collected about 500."

• Javi Swinarski [07:25]: "Way more important now than before."

• Javi Swinarski [11:23]: "If you're homeless, you're probably not gonna have socks. That's, like, the least of your concerns."

---

About the Podcast

The PM Podcast by DonorSearch delves into the lives of changemakers reshaping our world, offering raw and personal conversations with leaders from various sectors. Whether you're involved in a mission-driven organization or passionate about community welfare, each episode provides inspiration and insights into the real impact of dedicated individuals like Javi Swinarski.

---

Listen to more episodes and stay inspired by subscribing to The PM Podcast on your favorite platform. For additional information about AFP and its awards, visit AFP Global.

Transcript

[Javi Swinarski]

As I've gotten older, I'm starting to realize, like, more and more how important this actually is. And I think that's kind of the nice thing about doing it when you're younger, because then as you go older and older, you actually realize the importance of this.

[Jay Frost]

Welcome to the PM Podcast, brought to you by Donor Search, the show that takes you inside the lives of thought leaders, innovators and change makers in fundraising, philanthropy, and civil society. I'm your host, Jay Frost. Javi Swinarski is a junior at Gilmore Academy and one of two recipients of the 2025 William R. Sims Award for Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy presented by the association of Fundraising Professionals. Javi launched his annual Socktober Soc drive in the fourth grade after learning that SoCs are the most requested item in homeless shelters. Since then, he has mobilized classmates, local organizations, and national partners to collect and distribute tens of thousands of pairs of socks, including more than 22,000 pairs in 2024 alone. We spoke with him live at Icon AFP's international conference in Seattle, Washington.

[Javi Swinarski]

My name is Hayu Sinarski. I am currently a student at Gilmore Academy, located in Gates Mills, Ohio, in Cleveland. Currently Class of 2026.

[Unknown]

Class of 2026. Well, that's exciting. So not too much time before graduation?

[Javi Swinarski]

No, I got two more years at Gilmore out of the. I believe this would be 12 or 13 years at Gilmore. I've pretty much been there since Montessori.

[Unknown]

Oh, really?

[Jay Frost]

Wow.

[Unknown]

Okay. I know we're going to talk about other things, but what is it like going to one school where you probably know almost everybody and you've known them through this whole period of time when you're, like, becoming who you are today?

[Javi Swinarski]

Well, first, I think the biggest thing is just seeing the school change throughout all the years because our school has, like, a lower or elementary, and then we have a middle and upper school. So I think the biggest change that I've seen is through the lower school and with my sock drive, which we'll probably get to later. I always go down there every year for about two weeks, and I always see there's always something they change. Either it's between the teachers or some renovations. But it's always so fun to see the new atmosphere, and I think that's the one thing I enjoy. But when it comes to the middle and upper school, not a whole lot has changed. We actually just our school just recently renovated our cafeteria just because there's so many more students now. They needed a bigger cafeteria.

[Unknown]

So let's talk about the drive you're here because you've been recognized by afp. So first of all, congratulations.

[Javi Swinarski]

Thank you.

[Unknown]

Tell me about the project, what. What they're recognizing you for.

[Javi Swinarski]

If I. So I believe, or if I'm correct, they are recognizing me for the. Just the sock drive in total, not just what I've collected so far, which we've collected about 60,000 just from a rough estimate, but pretty much the drive is just. We. Mainly it's like two weeks in October, usually the first two weeks. And I contact my school and other local businesses and churches, and we usually run through the Father Michael Wyndham Ozenham Center. I'm forgetting where that is. I feel like I should know that by now. But we collect socks for the homeless, and then once those two weeks are over, we donated to places like the Michael Whitam Center, Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless, and other parishes or local shelters that need them. Actually, this year we just donated, like, I believe it was around 5,000 to the hurricane victims in North Carolina. So I thought that was really cool.

[Unknown]

Yeah. So what was the origin, the genesis? What made you want to do it in the first place?

[Javi Swinarski]

It was actually from a fourth grade religious trip to John Carroll University where we were making blankets for the homeless.

[Unknown]

Making blankets.

[Javi Swinarski]

We were making blankets.

[Unknown]

How were you making these blankets?

[Javi Swinarski]

Well, they gave us, like, little, like, cloths, and then they would stitch them, and then we would tie them like little knots after putting, like, some, like, stuffing in them so they would be nice and warm. But before we did all this and actually during it, too, we. They were talking about, like, the most requested items and why it's important. Important to, like, take care of these people. And I remember they were saying the most. One of the most requested items were socks. And I remember sitting there, I was like, why socks? That's like, the easiest thing you could get. So after the. After the trip, I was, like, talking to my parents. I was like, how come socks are the most requested thing? Like, why can't I do something about this? My parents, they were very. They were very helpful when we were talking to school to get a drive started, because I was. I guess I was, like, really determined to get this started. I was like, I can do this. I want to. I want to. I want to collect stocks for the homeless. So that first year, it was two weeks, and we collected about 500. And I. Could you not. I felt like I was on top of the world collecting 500.

[Unknown]

And it's 500 pairs, obviously. 500 pairs, yes. Not just one sock. Okay. But take us back to when you first kind of made this discovery on your own that there were socks needed. Why, why is that important? Why are socks needed for those who don't haven't been through this journey with you?

[Javi Swinarski]

Well, I think the most important thing is from just from the nine years I've been doing this and also just from personal research, I feel like socks are one of the key things of keeping you warm. I don't think people under three realize that. Like yeah, of course, clothes, but especially socks, because your feet are probably the closest to the floor. So they're probably gonna be the one, one of the parts of your body that are going to be most sensitive to temperature. And usually when your feet are cold, you're cold, as I like to say.

[Unknown]

Yeah, it's true. So I didn't realize this is nine years of running for you.

[Javi Swinarski]

Yes, eight years. Eight years. It'll be nine next year.

[Unknown]

How old were you when you started collecting all these socks?

[Javi Swinarski]

I think I was about 7 or 8, if I remember correct. I'm doing the math based.

[Unknown]

And so what has that process been like for you? I mean, especially because other people who might listen to this and hear your story might think, well, I'd like to do something too. But they often thinking about it at a point where they're, I don't know, they've got kind of established routine. But when you're 7 or 8, you don't necessarily have the routine except maybe going to school and coming back, right?

[Javi Swinarski]

Yeah.

[Unknown]

So what was it like for you initially and then how did you decide to keep doing it like this for eight years?

[Javi Swinarski]

Well, the initial intent was just to collect it, be a one time thing. But I was like, this is kind of fun to do. I want to keep doing this every year. And as I've gotten older, I'm starting to realize like more and more how important this actually is. And I think that's kind of the nice thing about doing it when you're younger because then as you go older and older, you actually realize the importance of this. So I think that's just a beautiful thing.

[Unknown]

It feels like it's more important even now to you than it was before.

[Javi Swinarski]

Oh yeah. Way more important now than before.

[Unknown]

Why is that?

[Javi Swinarski]

I just don't think I understood it when I was younger because I was like, it's wanted spunted, collect a bunch of socks and then donated them all. But I never really understood like how big of a deal like that actually is. And homelessness in general, it's, it's pretty bad. It's gotten better over the years. But that's. That doesn't mean we should stop or decrease our efforts. Should keep striving more and more to end homelessness entirely.

[Unknown]

Do you have a sense about that now? Maybe greater than you did when you were even younger? Thinking about homelessness and the things we're doing to address it. I mean, I don't know how much you see it in your community versus what we see on television, for example. Sometimes we're close to a situation we want to address. Sometimes it seems far away. So what's your kind of your exposure to homelessness and what are some of the things that you're hearing that people can do in addition to providing essential clothing so that people can stay warm?

[Javi Swinarski]

I actually have a story because the father Michael Wyndham Ozem center, they bring in volunteers to help because it's like a whole like, I guess a quote unquote shopping spree, but not really shopping. Everything's free there.

[Unknown]

So people who are unhoused can come in and get what they.

[Javi Swinarski]

Yeah, if I remember the process correctly, they give them like giant trash bags and they're like, take as much as you. As much as you desire. I'm forgetting if there's a time limit. I don't think so because they're usually pretty, they're usually out quick. But there's a whole bunch of stuff there like accessories, toiletries, clothing, blankets. I think I'm. I think I've seen a mattress there before. But there's also toys, which is essential.

[Unknown]

But I'm now imagining people who have no transportation trying to carry out clothing, let alone a mattress.

[Javi Swinarski]

Yeah, but I actually volunteer there every now and then. But the one day I was there, there was this. There's this young lady, I think she had. I think she had two daughters with her and she was needing a queen. She was needing a queen size bed sheet. And I guess it's kings and queens that run out very quickly. So usually they're only left with like twins. I'm forgetting the other size of bed sheets, it's blanking. But they were like looking and thinking, just couldn't find any more. They were running out. So they only had like a few left. And the, of course the two daughters are in the little kids section looking for books that they wanted.

[Unknown]

But I remember.

[Javi Swinarski]

They had like one queen size bed sheet left and they gave it to her. And you could just see it in the lady's eyes. Like she was so happy, she was so thankful. I don't I'll never forget that story.

[Unknown]

Yeah. How. What kind of feeling does that bring out in you? What do you.

[Javi Swinarski]

It's just. It warms my heart. Just because you're, like, you're helping people. I mean, I feel like a lot of my motivation for this drive is to help people get out of that. Just get out of that little poverty circle. I mean, I don't really. Poverty circle is not a good terminology for it, but like.

[Unknown]

Well, some kind of. I guess something that. Just Like a circle. Right. It's a cycle that's very difficult to break out of once you're in it. And having essentials is. Is key. I mean, if you don't have those, I don't know how you can.

[Javi Swinarski]

Right. Yeah. I feel like most people take those kind of small necessities for granted. Like, I don't feel like people realize that, like, if. Like, if you're homeless, you're probably not gonna have socks. That's, like, the least of your concerns. Probably. Besides money, clothing would probably be one of your bigger concerns, and socks would be out of the question.

[Unknown]

So where are you taking this now? Because you're a junior, so what do you imagine as you get into your senior year and beyond in terms of this work, but maybe even other kinds of activities where, you know, you obviously have a heart for this, where you'd like to place your time and your energy.

[Javi Swinarski]

I would hope to do this in college and even beyond college as well. But thankfully, we actually have someone who's willing to take over the drive once I'm. Once I graduated from Gilmore. She's currently in seventh grade, and once I'm out, she'll be a freshman. And for this upcoming socktober, she's actually gonna be helping a lot. Her first drive.

[Unknown]

Yeah, I'm glad you said that, because I had. That's. That's a great way of thinking about this. Sure. I'm sorry. Go ahead. Yes.

[Javi Swinarski]

But, yeah, she's gonna help me a lot this year so she can get the gist of it when I'm. When I'm gone. And hopefully when that drive starts the year I'm gone, hopefully I can come back down for a day or two to announce it to them. So I still plan to at least contribute to my drive at Gilmore, but of course, I'm not sure how well I'll be able to do it, especially when I'm at college, but.

[Unknown]

Right. Do you have plans already for school? For college?

[Javi Swinarski]

I mean, not necessarily. Which college, But I'm looking into computer science. I'M not sure if I want to go down the AI route or if I want to go down some software development. Still a little unsure, but I'm sure, sure it'll all line up within the next few months.

[Unknown]

And then I know that this has been very connected to your school where you've spent so much of your life so far. But in terms of the, the work, doing kind of charitable work, if you want to call it that, what role do you think that'll have in your life going forward beyond socktober? I mean, do you imagine that, that it's going to be a continuing part of what you do?

[Javi Swinarski]

Yeah, I think so. I mean, I'd hope to, like I said, I'd hope to do something even beyond college or at least like volunteer somewhere just for a chair to work. I just, I just hope people understand like, how important like these kind of things are because like I said, people take stuff for granted and they don't realize how good they have it compared to other people.

[Unknown]

Maybe I should ask you this. There are a lot of people who are they see something, it affects them, but they're not sure how to stop sitting on their hands, get up and do something. They don't necessarily have a socktober at their school, or at least not yet. What advice do you have for young people? You can pick the age group who want to make a difference and they're not sure how to start.

[Javi Swinarski]

I'm actually gonna probably take this perspective to children because children, they probably, they want to do something, but they don't know how to start it. So what I would say is like, ask your parents or guardians or any like any adult that you, that you would think would be able to help with your questions or with like, your concerns or any way to start something up. Because I knew I wasn't going to be able to start on my own. My parents knew that, too. That's why we went to our school principal and he was more than happy to help. But I think the big thing is just if you want to make a change, one person is more than capable of doing it. But it's always better with help.

[Jay Frost]

Well, that's it for this episode of the PM Podcast. You can learn more about AFP and its annual awards and [e-mail] our thanks to our sponsor, Donor Search, the world leader in AI powered fundraising intelligence solutions for the nonprofit world. Our producer is Jack Frost, and our theme music is Moving Out, Moving, Moving in by Jay Taylor and is provided courtesy of Epidemic Sound. If you like what you heard, make sure to subscribe wherever you like to listen. Check out our sister shows, Front Lines of Social Good and How to Raise. And come back next weekend for another conversation with a leader in the world of social good. Until then, this is Jay Frost. Thanks for joining me.