The Janis Kid’s Socks by Mitscoots (Local)
Mitscoots are SOCKS with a Mission: Get + Give + Employ
Mission: While volunteering along the streets of Austin, Texas circa 2008, Mitscoots discovered that right after food and water, there was no greater request among the less fortunate than for a clean pair of socks.
They did something about it. Momma’s Bacon noticed.
You may or may not know (hey, you could be reading my blog for the very first time) that my parents were social workers and I was involved in community service early on and was even involved in my high school’s second year community service program for teens. I was a very dedicated member to teaching teens the benefits of community service through that program: I collected food for the local food bank, worked at a women’s shelter, volunteered service through the local court system and gathered clothing as part of a collection for our sister-state high school program outside of Cleveland, Ohio. In fact, we got to travel to Cleveland with our community service program to personally hand out coats to the community in the fall (yup, got my picture in the year book for that one.) It was a really special experience and I do think that getting kids involved with community service to help those who are less fortunate gives them an experience that they will carry and value for life. As someone who grew up from a rural and ‘poor’ area of SE Ohio I have seen the difference just one person can make in the lives of an individual who needs it in that moment and I think it is important to give back when you can. While this is not why I think it is important to give back, I will say that for all volunteer work I have done I have gotten back probably ten-fold, so there probably is something to that whole karma thing, too!
Of course, I now live in Austin with my family and recently learned of this very cool local program that gives clean and new socks to those in need. I knew that was a huge need and I had to read more about this company (is it Miscoots? Mitscoos? What is this place?) and was moved by their website. So, yes, I want to shine a light on this organization especially to all my local Austin readers who may be interested!
Q&A with Tim Scott, Co-Founder of Mitscoots:
Thanks so much for taking the time for doing a Q&A for local Austin blogger, Momma’s Bacon!
Q: First, I have to ask about the name. What’s the story?
A: Well, at one time it was actually pretty embarrassing. When I was first learning how to spell my name back in the day as a small kid, I just couldn’t get it right. Not sure if I got kicked in the head by or horse or if letters just made no sense, but “Mit Scoot” is what I put on the page. Tim became “Mit” and Scott became “Scoot”. Well I guess the teachers thought it was pretty damn cute and decided not to correct me. “Look at little Mitscoot”. Nice ladies right! 🙂 Well a few weeks went by with me spelling my name wrong until a substitute teacher was so kind to teach me up on the chalkboard in front of the whole class. “What sounds does a T make?” Well least to say I was pretty embarrassed and I was forever teased with the new nickname of “Mitscoot”
Years went by and the name followed me everywhere. Football, military, college, it was there to stay. Well, I always tried to own it and not let it show that it drove me nuts, but it totally did. So, when it came time to name our company, I thought this was my chance to give the name a second life with purpose. In the same way that we take a group of people with a rough background and show how much they have to offer, I wanted to take a name that I just couldn’t get past and turn it into something great.
Q: Tell my readers the story of the ‘What, What, Who’ (What you Get, What you Give, Who you Employ) of Miscoots?
A: What Get: Well we make some pretty awesome socks. And I know it’s hard for some people to get super excited about socks, but it’s no problem for me anymore. We make great ones right here in the US and are helping to keep some manufacturing doors open. We make active, performance, and casual socks that have a bit of fun color to let you know that each pair is doing something awesome.
What Give: For every pair of socks that we sell online or with our retail partners, we give an equal quality pair of socks to someone in need. Someone in need can vary from an individual that is struggling through chronic homelessness or a low income family that has put socks pretty far down on their hierarchy of needs. What we found through our years of volunteering is that although socks are an afterthought for many people, the moment you run out its panic time. Well for someone who is out in the streets continuously, it can become a pretty big issue. We thought it was something no one should have to struggle with when they’re already dealing with the larger issues of poverty. We make sure that in need get the best pair possible. We actually worked with them continuously as our test audience to design the durability of our socks. We figured if they could last out there, they could hold up in the meanest of dryers. There isn’t a lesser version that we’re giving out, we give the best thing possible because we really want to put their needs first with our company. So, we work with a number of non-profits all across the country that helps distribute our socks to those that need them and we have given thousands so far.
Who Employ: This is one of the things we’re most excited about. When we started to grow as a company, all these jobs and tasks were popping up. When we started, it was just my wife and I handing out socks from our car window and filling our living room to the top. Well we all of a sudden needed help packaging these socks up for retail stores and online. Then we needed help with shipping and even putting the little stickers on stuff. It was overwhelming for just two people and we needed to bring in a few more people. Well, from the start of our company we knew that socks were only the symptom of the larger issue of poverty. We wanted to give someone a pair of socks for the time being but really wanted to do something more substantial. So when we had the work, we knew exactly who to work with.
Every single pair of our socks is packaged up by someone in need. We’re able to offer a hand-up and not just a hand-out. With that come dignity and the feeling of being part of a larger movement. When our guys and girls work with us they see and giant pile of packaged socks at the end of the day and they know that it means money that they earned and help for others in their same situation. We know how it may seem like a simple job to most of us, but for someone who couldn’t get hired in most typical work settings, it shows that everyone has worth and is possible of doing something great.
Q: Tell me about Janis, the name that inspired the kid’s socks?
A: We met Janis in the first few month of becoming a company and she has a huge impact on us. That’s how we like to name our products, after individuals that have has a significant and awesome impact on the world around them. Why should LeBron be the only one that gets stuff named after him? In any case, Janis was an amazing older woman that had been living on the streets for years. You just knew that she had been through a lot, but heck if you couldn’t see it in her eyes. You would have expected to see this far off stare to the middle distance, but instead she had this near crazy spark that kept us in conversation for a long time.
What struck us was what strikes us for a lot of individuals we meet out there on the streets. Despite all their circumstances, they still manage to find joy. That’s not to say they’re happily walking around with these problems, but it’s inspiring to see joy coming from the least likely places. She made an impact and naming a sock after her seemed the least we could do.
Q: If any of my readers want to help support Mitscoots, can you tell them how?
A: Spread the word. Not necessarily about our company, but just about the needs of those out there on the streets. Awareness and caring for those experiencing poverty is one of the biggest hurdles they face. We have to recognize the problem to be able to work on it. If someone would like us to give a pair of socks on their behalf and hire someone in need in the process, grab a pair of Mitscoots. But, if your readers want to grab a bulk bag of socks and keep them in the car to hand out on street corners, we think that’s FANTASTIC! I once had an interview where someone asked why people should get our socks instead of just handing them out on their own. Honestly, we think that’s the greatest idea in the world and it’s exactly how our company got started. It was just my wife and I, handing socks stuffed with a water bottle and granola bar out our car window. If tons of other people can do the same, maybe there won’t be such a need out there. I long for the day that no one needs a pair of socks. In the meantime, we doing a lot to help those in need get socks and work and are honored every day we have the opportunity to do it.
How are the Janis Kid’s Socks? Ten Toes Up! The kid socks fit children with the sizes between Youth Sizes 2-5.5 and the bright colors are awesome. It is a great opening dialogue to make small chat with people around Austin, too!
Mitscoots Sock Features:
+ temper-padded sole
+ combed cotton
+ hi-visibility green fiber
+ elastic arch support
+ low-profile seam
+ deep heel pocket+ signature logo
Want to get involved? Check out some of the ways you can support Mitscoots here!
The Janis Kid’s Socks by Mitscoots (Local)
List Price: $ 25.00 (Pack of Three – Can also purchase $11.99 per sock)
Momma's Bacon 