Socktober: Salvation Army joins with Leon County Sheriff's for underwear drive

Special to the Chronicle
·3 min read
The Tallahassee Salvation Army has joined with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office in a drive to collect socks and underwear for families.
The Tallahassee Salvation Army has joined with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office in a drive to collect socks and underwear for families.

The Tallahassee Salvation Army has joined with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office in a drive to collect underwear for men, boys, girls and women in an effort to provide these necessary items for individuals and families who depend on thrift shopping or vouchers for their clothing.

Locations are being solicited for placement of collection barrels. The Socktober Collection will be Oct. 3-8. Locations desired are retail establishments, restaurants, and offices. To sign on to host a collection site, please contact LCSOCPU@leoncountyfl.gov.

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A couple of collection sites are Old Navy, the 3 locations for Growing Room Childcare, Maple Street Biscuits, LCSO, and The Salvation Army.

LCSO has a new program, Homeless Outreach Street Team (HOST) to meet with the unhoused, assess their needs and work with local nonprofit and non-governmental organizations to meet those needs. Food and hygiene are always needed and can be addressed by the partners. However, socks and underwear are a constant need and are not items nonprofits receive through their thrift store donations.

The Salvation Army provides clothing vouchers to the unhoused to address their immediate need. They also provide clothing vouchers for individuals and families in many circumstances.

With the success of this drive, underwear will be available to be included with the clothing vouchers at The Salvation Army and for LCSO’s HOST team to take to the unhoused to better meet their needs.

Through the outreach of the HOST team, The Salvation Army has in the last month, been able to provide 1,000 rain ponchos, and weekly food bags and hygiene bags to HOST.

A need for cots for the Hope Community was identified through their efforts and provided by The Salvation Army.

“We are here to walk hand in hand with the deputies to address the needs of the unhoused and are grateful for the opportunity to join with them,” said Captain Herb Frazier. “Underwear has always been a great need and a very hard one for us to fulfill. Without direct donations of new under garments for men and women and children, we have this huge hole in our fulfillment basket.”

Working with partners, HOST has been able to meet most needs. One other need expressed has been for large trash bags so the unhoused can litter police their own areas.

“We are asking for the community’s help in providing drop off locations and donations” stated Captain JoAnn Frazier. “I cannot imagine my child without underwear and socks, yet there are many in our community without those exact items. It is not always a fashion statement when you see a child without socks. Please sign up to host a barrel for collection for the week of Oct. 3- 8, 2022.”

To sign up for a donation drop off site, contact LCSO at LCSOCPU@leoncountryfl.gov. To donate, contact Margaret.Armistead@USS.SalvationArmy.org or call Margo Armistead at 850-222-0304.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Salvation Army, LCSCO team up for Socktober underwear drive