HuffPost Greatest Person Of The Day: Emily DeScalo And Her Team Document The 'New Poor'

Socks are the least donated pieces of clothing -- but they're one of the most requested items -- according to Emily DeScalo, who is on a mission to help provide one million socks to struggling Americans.

The sock project is part of a student film endeavor to shine a light on the "new poor," the 13.9 million unemployed Americans and those whose jobs do not pay them enough to feed their families.

DeScalo is one of eight film students who will travel 8,451 miles by car to 36 cities in 16 states. The plan is to spend four weeks filming and blogging about the "new poor" and those who help them.

"We're trying to show these people that there is help out there," DeScalo, 21, said. "We're trying to show that everyone can do something within their means."

The film students are working for No Nonsense Clothing, which has teamed with Kids In Distressed Situations (K.I.D.S.) for the project.

All types of charitable organizations will be visited during the trip, from small homeless shelters to larger programs with the infrastructure to serve thousands, according to No Nonsense.

"There are so many unemployed and children living below the poverty line right now," DeScalo said.

DeScalo, who graduated this year with a degree in film and television from Boston University, said she hopes the students' short films from their trip will inspire others.

"It will be uplifting for people to see who these socks are going to," DeScalo said. "They might think, maybe I could do this little thing to help."

Just two days in, DeScalo said she's benefited from her efforts to support others. It's even made her want to pursue documentary filmmaking.

"We're growing personally and this is something that we'll continue doing," DeScalo said. "This is what life's about. When you see how you can affect someone else's life, it's amazing.

K.I.D.S., which has been fighting poverty since 1985, started by assisting children suffering from famine in Ethiopia. K.I.D.S. acts as a conduit for retailers and other businesses to link up with aid organizations.

To donate socks to the campaign, visit No Nonsense's Facebook page.

You can also keep up with DeScalo and her fellow students here.

Comments

[Reticent2]

12:15 PM on 07/12/2011

Now do a sequel: How many "new poor" can't get adequate medical care, eat, have shelter, are safe, or can read and write. SHOW what we already know, that we have fallen in literacy (45th in the world), and other key factors. SHOW that we are becoming a third world country.

[8thplane]

10:04 PM on 07/09/2011

At least their doing something!

[GustavoRejivik]

12:03 AM on 07/09/2011

New Poor ?? .. meaning since Obama took office ... thanks Barak, what's your Golf handicap now?

You cannot take a tax cut of 3% 10 years ago and somehow tie it into the main cause for a worldwide recession 10 years later ... that's just plain stoooopid.

Obama and people like you need to accept that the extra Trillion you threw at the economy didn't do much, we were lied to about so-called "shovel ready projects" ... they just shoveled cash into Public Sector Employee paychecks, pensions, and benefits ...

What happened to the "lazer-lik­e focus" on jobs?
How about the "Summer of Recovery" .. wasn't that LAST summer?
Obama just goes out and plays golf .. pays only lip service to the economy .. its been 2 years and Progressiv­es OWN it

[Each1Teach1]

11:03 PM on 07/11/2011

Yes, and don't forget to ask Boehner why the House has created no legislation to create new jobs since he became speaker.

[Joseph Furtenbacher]

10:17 AM on 07/08/2011

Great - a documentary being filmed of people being given socks, in order to encourage more people to give socks...

Sorry if I sound cynical, but it seems a bit strange to me to read about people who are being described as the 'Greatest Person Of The Day (And Team)' for taking an extended road trip in order to document the decline of an empire, when for far less time and far fewer resources, they could be documenting the one person who knows how to save it (ahem).

But then, it's true I've never attended a film school, let alone graduated from one. Never had that strong an urge to persuade already-addicted people that what is (in reality) unreal, is (in the unreality of their minds) real.

Then again, I've never had any trouble affording socks, even when I was living on less than seven thousand dollars a year in order to learn how best to help humanity, but of course there are no awards for that sort of thing. How could there be? No one else has ever done it.

[KatieLee116]

10:55 AM on 07/08/2011

you kinda sound like a tool. Lots of people do great things for humanity, while making much less than 7k a yr and also while making more than that. I'm sorry that you think you do a much better job than anyone else ever. And I strongly doubt that you (ahem) are the one person that knows how to "save it". These people just want some socks, why turn into your personal pity poem? Lame man, super lame.

[Joseph Furtenbacher]

02:11 PM on 07/08/2011

Super lame, huh? Seems a bit lame to to me when people dismiss my claims without ever having bothered to read anything I've written. My Huffpo comments page alone contains practical, detailed, policy prescriptions for most of the 'problems' you people continue to go on about, prescriptions based on my detailed internalization of the basics of philosophy, psychology, sociology, economics, history, law, politics, pedagogy, theology, architecture, computers, and nutrition (and many others to a lesser degree) all while actually living, after paying my rent ($425/mth) and phone ($25/mth), on around three dollars a day. Can you (or anyone you can actually name) say the same?

Understand me: I'm trying to convince myself that there's really much more point in worrying over Americans' inability to provide themselves (or their less fortunate compatriots) with even basic necessities such as socks (in what is generally acknowledged to be one of the richest countries in the world), when they won't have my ability to provide them with clean air, water and energy, nourishing food, and adequate clothing, shelter, health care and education, at any price. Any particular reason I should (apart from ethics)? I'm Canadian, and we're doing great...

[GustavoRejivik]

12:05 AM on 07/09/2011

You're one of the idiots who bought iRenew ... aren't you??

[MillieNeon]

02:46 PM on 07/08/2011

No reason to disparage others who are doing stuff to help people. And, I know from experience, that one starts with one project and that generally blossoms into other projects. Gotta get your feet wet somewhere first. I happen to live next door to a church that runs a food pantry and collects clothing and items for poor people, and there is a shortage of socks. Here in Chicago, socks are a very necessary thing in winter.

But there's plenty of people to disparage in this world without picking on those trying to raise awareness and do something good. You may have done a lot of things, but your ego is squawking so loud in your post, it trivialized anything you've done.

[WaPoFan]

07:35 AM on 07/08/2011

I still think their logo reads "Sucks for America"

[southernman]

06:49 AM on 07/08/2011

Tee shirt has got to go, it leaves the wearer open to all kinds of innuendos , I wouldn't wear it .

[UncleJimbo]

06:42 AM on 07/08/2011

Does She Work at H P ? ....... Plenty of Socks Here!

[vespachild]

03:43 AM on 07/08/2011

Anything done for the unfortunate is always a good thing

[GustavoRejivik]

03:18 AM on 07/08/2011

Get used to this kind of story .. all thanks to the Obama Economy ..

[citipearl]

03:13 PM on 07/08/2011

Obama economy? Pardon me, but there was a budget surplus when George W. Bush took office. He gave tax cuts to wealthy people (that were not paid for), started two wars (remember when he said that the oil in Iraq would pay for that war?), and we lost jobs at an astounding rate while he was President. The job trend has reversed under Obama. The budget deficit is out of control, not because of anything Obama has done, but because of what his predecessor did. If anything, Obama needs to stop trying to placate the Republicans and do more New Deal type repair so people can get working again. Working people buy things and pay taxes -- seems like we should all be able to get on board with that, right? Let's stop making this about Obama -- it's not.

[GustavoRejivik]

12:00 AM on 07/09/2011

You're not pardoned, get over it and read this:

Bush inherited 911 from a lax 8 years of Clinton .. who would have never balanced the budget had not a GOP controlled Congress forced him to do so.

You cannot take a tax cut of 3% 10 years ago and somehow tie it into the main cause for a worldwide recession 10 years later ... that's just plain stoooopid.

Obama and people like you need to accept that the extra Trillion you threw at the economy didn't do much, we wwere lied to about so-called "shovel ready projects" ... they just shoveled cash into PUblic Sector Employee paychecks, pensions, and benefits ...

What happened to the "lazer-like focus" on jobs?
How about the "Summer of Recovery" .. wasn't that LAST summer?
Obama just goes out and plays golf .. pays only lip service to the economy .. its been 2 years and Progressives OWN it...

[Vida Grant]

02:26 AM on 07/08/2011

Unemployment numbers are comprised of those that are in the job market for the past 30 days. It does not include those that have not been in the job market in the last 30 days: people who have given up looking; those that have gone off unemployment because it has run out. One solution to unemployment is "High Speed University" check it out

[GCurry]

02:09 AM on 07/08/2011

Hmmm. All my socks are singles or full of holes. I don't know where the mates go. It also seems that these days socks don't last as long as they used to. No more reinforced heels, it seems.

So, I give up. Recently, began looking at getting socks in bulk, all the same. One gross (dozen times dozen) should cost $100-$150. They should last the rest of my life, and then some to bequeath.

[MSROADKILL612]

12:54 AM on 07/08/2011

Might seem a no brainer, but only late in life, as a sweaty guy, did I realise my shoes were too small. I have now standardised on same color, thick all cotton sports socks (3x for ~$5) & shoe size to match.

In summer, I prefer sockless so my feet can breath.

In a cold climate I can see their importance. as a kid i worked in a dairy & scrunching around in predawn frost in conductive gum boots collecting the cows was a killer. The hot shower afterwards on ones frost bitten feet was excruciating.

They sure seem the garment that gets lost, mis matched & worn out most easily.

I wonder when socks became generally affordable & when their manufacture was automated - a complicated garment for the rich b4 that. Fairly recently i suspect.

I wonder how the 3rd world solves the problem?

I also worked in a freezer. Initially I was all gloved up, but in time my body adapted & I found I could work bare handed.

[cachinnatrix]

01:24 AM on 07/08/2011

That's the most fascinating comment I've read all day.

[MSROADKILL612]

02:37 AM on 07/08/2011

Just so i can keep my spreadsheet up to date, how many fascinating comments do u read per day? :)

[MSROADKILL612]

05:02 AM on 07/08/2011

Sorry - ta - a very nice & flattering thing to say.

A mate, to whom i foolishly revealed my tag line, now stalks my posts & reckons I am a misogynist, & no doubt blabs my posts to all all and sundry. Not sure am comfortable w/ that. Anonymity breeds honesty - hence secret ballots

shall send to this alleged mate in the hope it does some good.

shall have to watch my pS & qS till I find the destalk button.

[garylloyd]

12:25 AM on 07/08/2011

Condoms would have been a better idea.

[cachinnatrix]

01:25 AM on 07/08/2011

How about both? Socks for the feet and socks for the petes. ;-)

[KatieLee116]

10:58 AM on 07/08/2011

What? Reproductive rights for poor people in this country? You must be a communist

[structurequity]

12:17 AM on 07/08/2011

brava

[Sharon Dee]

11:48 PM on 07/07/2011

"America" land of myths......and mythmakers....we are not the greatest nation in the world...we just tell the best B.S. about how great we are...in reality, people have always suffered miserable lives while living amongst the rich who have more than they need, right here in the good ol U.S.A. People are in denial....they look the other way, because the truth would spoil the "myth" if they acknowledged it.

[MSROADKILL612]

12:27 AM on 07/08/2011

True - the US has always been very uncaring about the also rans. Only time they got decent wages was when demand was high & immigrants scarce (ww1 & 2). Back then, immense resources provided some buffer, but now they are exhausted & that pie is sliced very thin indeed given the extra people.