Bend woman uses son’s addiction as inspiration

A Bend businesswoman is taking a painful experience involving her son and drug addiction, and using it to help the homeless.

Kim DeBraal shared her story with NewsChannel 21 on Tuesday in hopes of increasing donations of an often overlooked item: socks.

“My son is a drug addict. He’s been an addict for 11 years,” DeBraal said. “We just got a call a few weeks ago, and he was really bad in the worst way, and he didn’t ask for anything. He just asked for a pair of socks.”

After three overdoses and 30 trips to treatment centers, she said she’s done everything she can to help him with his heroin addiction.

“I see my son dying,” DeBraal said. “I see his struggle, and I know he’s the sweetest boy you’ve ever met, and I see his struggle — and no, I don’t see him getting clean.”.

Now, as winter approaches, she has him in mind as she collects socks to give to local shelters.

“When the homeless get wet — their socks, their blankets — they have to throw everything away. They don’t have a way to dry it. So we are always in need (of donations),” said Georgiann Watson, office manager at The Shepherd’s House.

DeBraal said if she can make a difference in even one person’s life, she’s done her job.

“Providing some relief, or even just a smile — that’s what I want,” she said.

DeBraal will be holding the sock drive until Dec 20 at her store, Tropical Beach Tanning in Bend.