A Great Neck teenager is being hailed an unsung hero by putting his best foot forward.

For the past three years, 14-year-old Jackson Southerland has collected socks during the holiday season to donate to homeless New Yorkers.

Jackson’s Homeless Sock Drive was inspired after an encounter with a homeless man after a basketball game.

"I gave him $1 and I saw he was so happy. And to see the joy on his face from $1, I wanted to do more,” he says.

Jackson and his mother did research and found that socks are what is most needed by those experiencing homelessness, as they are on their feet constantly and need to be changed often.

With about 4,000 Long Islanders experiencing homelessness every day, according to experts, Jackson stepped up his efforts this year.

“We are trying to combine both of his passions— to give back to the homeless and also basketball,” says Jackson’s mother, Lissa Southerland.

Jackson reached out to his favorite teams and players to help out, like the Brooklyn Nets’ James Johnson.

The majority of donations will go to the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless.

“There’s a tremendous, tremendous need for a donation like this right here, in one of the wealthiest areas in the world,” says Greta Guarton, of the coalition.

Jackson was recently named the youngest recipient of the organization’s unsung hero award.

He met his goal this year of collecting 7,500 socks. He hasn't set a goal yet for 2022 yet, but it will likely be a high one.

“If I can do this at my age, imagine when I get older. I can do way more stuff than this,” Jackson says.

Jackson said he won't deliver the socks until next week, so there’s still a chance for people to donate.

To donate, contact Jackson’s Sock Drive on Instagram or Twitter to coordinate drop offs at 16 Middle Neck Road in Great Neck.