Nottinghamshire sock manufacturer SockMine is working with local homeless project, the Beacon Centre, to provide fresh, clean socks to its users.
The firm, based in Sutton-in-Ashfield, will support those who use the centre by providing free pairs of its workwear socks, which are thick, sturdy, warm and comfortable. For every ten pairs of SockMine socks sold throughout the year, the firm will donate one pair to the centre.
Based in Mansfield, the Beacon is a day centre which gives support to the homeless, excluded and marginalised in the town. It opened its doors in 2001, to provide a safe and welcoming place where people can get a hot meal, clean clothes and access to toilet and shower facilities.
The organisation also runs drop-in sessions with benefits, healthcare, drugs and alcohol, local authority and housing professionals. Between 20 and 50 people use the centre every day. Around 70% are homeless.
SockMine’s Marketing and Communications Coordinator, Dominic Lee, took the first batch of socks to the centre this week.
He said: “As a local company with strong roots in the community, giving something back is really important to us, and homelessness is a cause that is very close to our hearts.
“We pride ourselves on making socks which care for your feet, whether that’s to help athletes avoid injury and improve performance, or simply to keep people’s feet warm and dry.
“In the grand scheme of things, donating socks to the people who use the Beacon Centre is only a small gesture, but giving them access to fresh, clean, warm socks, particularly at this time of year, is one less thing for them to worry about, so we’re delighted to be able to help.”
Beacon Centre Manager Louisa Hillman said: “We’re delighted to be working with SockMine on this initiative and are grateful for the support they have given so far.
“We are reliant entirely on donations, grant funding and gifts of food and clothing, so it’s great to know we’ll have a regular supply of high quality socks to share with centre users throughout the year.”
To find out more about the Beacon Centre, visit www.mansfieldbeacon.org or like it on Facebook, www.facebook.com/thebeaconproject.