By Lauren Lowrey - bio | email
Posted by Nick Dutton - email
TOLEDO, OH (WTOL) - Doris Turner was awarded with a Jefferson Award Thursday, April 1, at the Toledo Club.
When most folks think of Hannah's Socks, they think of the 4-year-old little girl who recognized a homeless man's need for socks -- and not her mother, an integral part of the organization.
Between Hannah's many national TV appearances and magazine articles, it is easy to overlook her mother Doris Turner, who made many of the organization's accomplishments possible.
When Hannah decided she wanted to collect socks, Turner describes it as a turning point.
"I felt like as her mom, it was my job not to let it go," said Turner. "It was like a gift she unknowingly gave me."
For two years, the mother and daughter began secretly giving away new pairs of socks.
However, the operation grew rapidly. As a result, Doris Turner became President of Hannah's Socks in 2006.
Since then, they have collected 200,000 pairs of socks.
Doris Turner always turned the spotlight back on daughter, one of her eight adopted children.
"You lead by example -- and I think Hannah just saw us caring for other people," said Turner. "And so wanting to be a good example for all these children that came to us from different backgrounds… I wanted to try harder to be a better person, myself, for them."
WTOL is proud to honor folks in our community who dedicate their lives to volunteering and public service. WTOL and The Blade are proud to present this year's Jefferson Award winners.
The Jefferson Awards are presented by the American Institute for Public Service in honor of individual achievements and contributions through public and community service.
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