5,000 pairs of socks were delivered to Food and Friends this morning.
Food with Friends, a homeless outreach nonprofit serving Clark County, today received 5,000 pairs of socks from a national nonprofit called Bombas.
Bombas was launched in 2013 after one of the founders heard that socks are the most requested item in homeless shelters. Working with their giving partners, Bombas staff said they designed a sock that requires fewer washings thanks to a antimicrobial treatment and lasts longer with reinforced seams. Bombas operates under a one-for-one business model: a pair of socks is donated to the homeless each time pair of Bombas socks are purchased.
Food with Friends was founded by Battle Ground City Councilor Cherish DesRochers and her friend Jamie Spinelli, an outreach case manager at Community Service Northwest.
Along with bringing food, toiletries, clothes, and other supplies to the homeless, they do volunteer screening and training for emergency shelters and run a coordinated outreach hotline. Earlier this year they expanded their efforts by launching the Shower Outreach Project, offering free showers via portable showers they park around the county.
DesRochers said a lack of clean socks is a continual problem they see.
“One I didn’t realize entirely until we started the SOP (Shower Outreach Project)," she said in a message to The Reflector. "While running the SOP I’ve seen a lot of people’s bare feet. It’s clear people are spending a lot of time on their feet in various conditions. Several people have even had sores from excessive walking and being unable to access shower facilities. These socks are specially designed for the homeless and the conditions they can endure on their feet. We had a goal to provide people with a new pair of socks and underwear with their shower. Well, we’ve got half of that goal covered. Now to look for donation opportunities of underwear.”
Along with being provided at the mobile showers, DesRochers said the socks will be distributed through their outreach programs. They also provided the Battle Ground School District Family and Community Resource Center with 300 pairs.
Finding the next shower location
• Follow on Facebook: facebook.com/foodwithfriendswa
• Call: 360-723-5791
• Email: info@foodwithfriends.net
