Escapees January-February 2023

From Iowa to Mississippi and back to their Texas home base, Sharon says they are looking forward to years of service with the NOMADS and SOWERS. “We can’t say enough good things about it. How wonder ful it is to be able to be in our RV with the freedom that we have, and also be able to plug into a community that travels around the country serving God with us.” The Sokman Inspires Another Way to Serve By giving back to others, the Hoyts know what Gandhi meant when he said, “The best way to fi nd yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” Another Escapee who can relate to that experience is Tom “The Sokman” McNamara (SKP #180930). In 2010, the retired special education teacher and RV traveler made it his mission to help others during what he describes as the worst year of his life. He faced one personal struggle after another, from a house fl ood to a fi re that destroyed the home two months later, concerns over an adult child’s mental health struggles and, fi nally, the brutal murder of his ex-wife by a homeless person almost put him over the edge. But through the power of community and his spirituality, Tom counted his blessings and saw better days ahead. “The outpouring of love that I was shown! I realized that God pushed me towards doing something in return for the gifts. He led me to look at the homeless and their needs, thus the Sokman came about.” Tom's mission is to gift clean socks to homeless individuals he meets during his travels. "Here I am today 33,000 pairs of socks later and still loving my homeless mission work.” Financed through donations and his pension funds, Tom has gone to disaster zones to contribute his relief work through large organizations. But he fi nds more grati fi cation by directly working

from society. I like to try and get to know them personally.” During his travels, he reaches out to locals for tips on fi nding people from gas stations to big box store parking lots that he can help out. Throughout the holidays, he locates charitable events for homeless individuals and families. Once he connects with them, his outreach provides so much more than a clean pair of "freshies" as they’re known in the homeless community. “The people I give the socks to have responded 99 percent of the time as if I was an angel who came down to visit them,” he says. Beaming with huge smiles and open arms, many will greet him like an old friend and in seconds, they’re happily wearing their new pair. “After they put them on, most just sit back and enjoy the wonderful feeling of how they feel on their feet. It’s such a simple gesture, but I’ve been told ‘These are better than gold! Better than drugs! You could not have given me a better gift in the world!’ Some have even started to cry while telling me ‘I haven’t changed or washed my socks in weeks, or months!’ Grateful doesn’t do justice to the reception I get.” Like a true Escapee, Tom also gifts a judgment-free, generous hug to all his new friends before he goes. It’s a powerful action that means so much to many people. Tom recalls a man in Silver City, New Mexico, who hugged him back tightly, then revealed that it was the only human contact he would have all day. “I cried as I walked away thinking how many homeless never get a human touch on any given day,” says Tom. “Just let that settle in for a while.” Don’t wait to make a difference during your travels. Learn more about NOMADS online at https://www.nomadsumc.org, and SOWERS at https://www.sowerministry. org. Start a conversation about volunteer ing at the Escapees Discussion Forums’ “Volunteering Adventures” topic (https://www.rvnetwork.com).

with those he wants to help. “My heart lies in going to places where the homeless don’t want to be found. I look in forests, rail yards and any place they could be hiding

RENE AGREDANO AND JIM NELSON #103274 are enjoying their 16th year as full-time RVers and location-independent entrepreneurs. They enjoy sharing the lifestyle with others at www.LiveWorkDream.com.

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ESCAPEES Magazine January/February 2023