United Supermarkets turns pear sales into pairs of socks donated to Salvation Army
United Supermarkets on Tuesday donated 1,000 pairs of socks to the Salvation Army of Amarillo through its Pears for Pairs initiative at its 45th Avenue / Bell Street location.
With an ongoing partnership with Rainier Fruits, United Supermarkets used a portion of sales of the brand’s pears and apples throughout the year to purchase socks and donate to organizations supporting the homeless community.
In total, 5,000 pairs of Hanes socks were donated over the past week to charitable organizations in the Amarillo, Abilene, Lubbock, Wichita Falls and Midland/Odessa communities. United Supermarkets has participated in this program for the last decade and typically gives these communities about 5,000 socks a year.
Fernando Noriega, United Supermarkets store director, spoke about his company’s commitment to giving back to the Amarillo community through the Pears for Pairs program.
“We are excited to celebrate the opportunity that we have been given to raise money through Rainier’s Pears for Pairs program to provide these socks to the Salvation Army,” Noriega said. "Every year, we work with Ranier to raise money for this program. This is a great community event for United to be involved in.”
Noriega said he is happy to work with a company that does so much work in the community.
“Amarillo is such an amazing community to work with for causes like this,” Noriega added.
Major Tex Ellis of the Salvation Army of Amarillo spoke about how these donations impact his organization and its mission.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for us to be able to assist those that come through our doors,” Ellis said. "Donations like this enable us to help those in the community that need it. Socks are one of the most needed items to those that are homeless.”
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Ellis said that community involvement is the key to being able to help those in the most need.
According to Ellis, more than 10,000 people came through the doors of the Salvation Army last year needing help, and he expects about the same number this year.
“Donations are the key to being to help people, and without this help, we would not be able to serve the community as it does,” Ellis said. "Food, clothing, monetary donations, all of these things really go to help our mission.”
For more information or to donate to the Salvation Army of Amarillo, go to https://southernusa.salvationarmy.org/amarillo/
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Via Pears for Pairs, United Supermarkets gives socks to Salvation Army
