United Way Bruce Grey is bringing back an annual donation drive at local Santa Claus parades this winter.
Kristy Andre, Fundraising Champion of United Way Bruce Grey, says this is the second annual sock drive that United Way will host at the parades in Owen Sound, Markdale, Kincardine, Port Elgin, Southampton, and Meaford. She says people already bring loads of food items and other goods to donate, so the United Way thought of the idea for sock donations.
"Why not ask the community of they want to bring a nice pair of socks, too? It's so needed right now and it's a good way to support people keeping warm," Andre shared. "It's simple, it's relatively cost-effective, so if people are out doing their shopping supporting the food banks, picking up a nice warm pair of socks is also needed."
The socks are distributed to local homeless initiatives, as well as local paramedics and police to distribute. Andre says this allows first responders to be able to have a conversation with someone in need and offer them a nice pair of warm socks to try and help out. United Way puts a 211 information tag on all the socks to make people aware of the 24/7 call-in support service.
"211 is an information referral service. So it's just to remind people that that's out there, as well. So if they need information on resources in their community, they can call 211 and it's just a nice way to check in with people and see how they're doing," added Andre.
Last year, 648 pairs of socks were collected and distributed to people in need throughout Grey and Bruce counties.
This year, the parades where United Way Bruce Grey will collect socks are:
-Owen Sound: Saturday, November 16
-Markdale: Friday, November 29
-Kincardine: Saturday, November 30
-Port Elgin: Saturday, November 30
-Southampton: Friday, December 6
-Meaford: Saturday, December 7
Additionally, Andre says there will be some unique food drives held in Owen Sound.
"So we have a couple Stuff the Ambulance drives in Owen Sound coming up. On November 23 we're at Food Basics in Owen Sound and then on December 14 we're at Giant Tiger," Andre shared. "Those are events to have people come out and donate non-perishable food items, socks, tents, tarps, that kind of stuff, just to help with our homeless communities."
If you miss the local Santa Claus parades, you can drop off donations to the United Way Bruce Grey office at 380 9th Street East in Owen Sound.
For more information about the sock drive or other ways to support United Way Bruce Grey, contact fundraiser@unitedwaybg.com or visit https://unitedwayofbrucegrey.com/.