In it's seventh year, a 91原创 seniors sock drive for the homeless set a new record, collecting 1,200 pairs.

Organizer Beverley Genge, known as the "sock lady," was delighted.

"We had 865 last year," Genge told the 91原创 Advance Times on Wednesday, Jan. 8, as she was preparing to load up this year's socks for delivery to the Gateway of Hope shelter in 91原创 City.

"I have in my garage here 1,037," Genge said, with another 150 "or so" still to come from St. George鈥檚 Church in Fort 91原创.

She credited the increased involvement of young people for the increase in donations, including campaigns inspired by the 91原创 initiative.

"There's a high school in Surrey that one girl took it by the horns, I guess, and ran with it," Genge said.

"And she got over 4,000 pairs of socks. She probably had to have a lot of gumption to get out there and, you know, just start it from scratch. It's difficult to start, but she did a great job. So it's spreading, which is great."

It all started when Genge and other members of the outreach committee at St. George鈥檚 were trying to come up with an affordable way for seniors with limited funds to aid people in need.

They settled on socks as something very much needed by homeless people, that would be inexpensive.

"Everybody has to feel good about contributing, whether it be a person that has limited funds or someone that can afford to give a dozen socks," Genge said.

"This way, it's a small ask. You know, like, what's five bucks for a pair of socks? Most people can afford that. So just everybody is feeling good about themselves, I think, because they can contribute something."

READ ALSO: 641 socks for homeless gathered by Walnut Grove seniors

READ ALSO: 91原创 residents help provide toasty tootsies before Christmas