Sandy Norris, of Butler Township, and Dave Zarnick, president of the Butler Township Commissioners, add more than 100 pairs of socks Norris collected throughout the year to the Socks For Seniors donation at the Butler Township Municipal Building on Wednesday, Nov. 30. The donation bin is in the lobby at the municipal building, which is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. Donations will be accepted until Dec. 11. Cary Shaffer/Butler Eagle

BUTLER TWP — Sandy Norris started collecting items for different community donation drives when her son was deployed overseas in the military.

Over the course of this year, she has collected more than 100 pairs of socks from stores during her usual shopping trips. Knowing that socks are a common need for many people, Norris dumped her year’s haul into a donation bin at the Butler Township Municipal Building on Wednesday, hoping that they will get to people in need.

“If I’m shopping any time, and I see good deals, I just buy them,” said Norris, a part-time employee of Butler Township. “Everyone always needs socks all the time.”

Socks For Seniors has been an annual drive in Butler Township for at least a few years now, and it and several other organizations have donation bins set up for the drive until Dec. 11. Dave Zarnick, president of the Butler Township Commissioners, said municipal administrators are leading the drive in the township to help get socks to local senior citizens.

“We’re always collecting toys and things for drives,” Zarnick said Wednesday. “It’s easy for us; we just put the box up.”

Socks are collected, sorted and delivered by volunteers to Butler County Meals on Wheels as well as the various assisted living centers in time for their holiday parties, according to a post on the Socks For Seniors Facebook page. Senior housing around the city of Butler has socks delivered by “Santa’s Helpers” on Christmas morning.

The drive culminates in a “Sock Hop” event at Missing Links Brewery, which will take place the afternoon of Dec. 11.

According to Zarnick, Butler Township’s sock collection drive was successful last year, and he said he expects it to be equally helpful to area seniors this year.

“The township really gives when we ask for help with things like this,” Zarnick said.

Sock collection bins are available in the Butler Township Municipal Building, Butcherine's Distributor, Snyder Excavating, Missing Links Brewery, Fast and Fair Auto Repair, the Beer Garden Sports Bar & Grille and Rock Ann Haven until Dec. 11.