HanesBrands

A Decade of Care: Hanes Launches 10th National Sock Drive to Help the Homeless; Tops 3 Million Donated Pairs

November 26, 2019

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., November 22, 2019 /3BL Media/ – Small gifts often have the most meaning.

For the millions of people living homeless, a clean pair of socks is often described as “the gift of humanity.” Hanes, America’s No. 1 basic apparel, underwear and sock brand, is partnering with organizations fighting homelessness nationwide to deliver comfort to those who need it most through the Hanes National Sock Drive. The brand is marking 10 years of helping provide care and compassion during this year’s drive by:

Donating more than 250,000 pairs of socks directly to organizations fighting homelessness in all 50 states, along with Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. Since the program’s inception in 2009, Hanes has provided more than 3 million pairs of socks – one of the most requested items by relief agencies – to help the homeless.
Giving an additional pair of socks for every order of any apparel placed in December on Hanes.com. Socks will be provided to local homeless shelters.
Partnering with Rainier Fruit Company for its second “Pears for Pairs” campaign, which is currently running in United Supermarkets, Harris Teeter, Wegmans, and Lunds & Byerlys stores. From late September through January, Rainier is donating a portion of the proceeds from bulk and bagged pear sales to the Hanes National Sock Drive. In 2018, the Pears for Pairs campaign resulted in 20,000 pairs of socks being donated to five nonprofits.
Offering consumers the opportunity to participate directly in the program by visiting www.hanes.com/donate to gift socks ($1), women’s underwear ($1), men’s underwear ($1.50) and bras ($6) that will be distributed in needed styles and sizes.
Continuing its 10-year collaboration with Invisible People and its founder, Mark Horvath, to help raise awareness about homelessness. Invisible People uses innovative storytelling, educational resources and advocacy to help change how the public views homelessness and those living homeless in the United States and abroad.

“Most of us take basic apparel for granted, but we know a new, clean pair of socks can mean a lot to those experiencing homelessness,” said Sidney Falken, chief branding officer, HanesBrands. “We are committed to bringing a little comfort to those who need it most – and it is incredibly gratifying to have others, including many individuals across the country, join us in this effort.”

More than 100 agencies, including The Salvation Army Bell Shelter (Bell, California), Homeward Bound (Asheville, North Carolina) and Compassion Outreach Ministries (Columbus, Ohio), have received sock donations from Hanes.

“Small things really do make a big difference to our clients,” said Steve Lytle, director of The Salvation Army Bell Shelter. “The smile on a client’s face when she received a clean pair of socks for the first time in months was priceless. There was joy in her eyes and it was clear that the socks were the most precious gift she could have received in that moment. Another client said his gift of clean socks was a sign that there are people who care and that his life did matter.”

Homeward Bound distributes more than 2,000 pairs of socks a month to those living homeless.

“Homelessness is a community problem and it will take everyone’s support to help end the epidemic,” said Ashley Campbell, the agency’s outreach specialist. “Right now, some of your neighbors are living outside, in tents and under bridges, vulnerable to inclement weather and violence, stripped of dignity and our collective respect.

“There are so many ways to help,” Campbell continued. “Educate yourself about homelessness in your community, volunteer at your local agency fighting this issue or simply make a donation that would help a nonprofit save its limited resources.”

Jeffrey Tabor, director of TWO Men’s Ministry House for Compassion Outreach Ministries of Ohio, added that there is no donation too small to be used for good to fulfill a basic human need.

“Imagine the importance of just one pair of socks when you are focused on keeping your feet dry and warm during the cold winter months,” Tabor said. “That’s why we are so thankful for our partnership with Hanes, which has fulfilled an immediate, basic human need for so many people.”

Lytle underscores, however, that sometimes it all boils down to human contact. “Acknowledge people who are experiencing homelessness with a smile or hello,” he said. “By engaging with a person who is experiencing homelessness we are saying ‘I see you and you matter.’”

The Hanes National Sock Drive is part of Hanes for Good, the corporate responsibility program of Hanes’ parent company, HanesBrands (NYSE:HBI).

Organizations distributing Hanes socks include:

State

City

Organization

Alabama

Mobile

Family Promise of Coastal Alabama

Alaska

Anchorage

Brother Francis Shelter

Arizona

Phoenix

Phoenix Rescue Mission

Arkansas

Fayetteville

7Hills Center

California

Bell

The Salvation Army Bell Shelter

Hollywood

Covenant House California

Los Angeles

East Los Angeles Women’s Center – Hope & H.E.A.R.T Emergency Shelter

Ktown for All

Los Angeles Mission

Street Symphony

San Diego

Father Joe’s Village

Santa Clara

Bill Wilson Center

Watsonville

The Salvation Army

Whittier

Whittier Area Interfaith Council

Colorado

Denver

Colorado Coalition for the Homeless

Connecticut

Ansonia

Master’s Table Community Meals

Waterbury

St. Vincent DePaul

Delaware

Dover

The Salvation Army

District of Columbia

Washington, D.C.

Covenant House Washington

Miriam’s Kitchen

Florida

DeLand

God’s Bathhouse

Fort Lauderdale

Covenant House Florida

Jacksonville Beach

Mission House

Lakeland

Talbot House Ministries

Pensacola

Alfred-Washburn Center

Waterfront Rescue Mission

Tampa

The Salvation Army

Georgia

Atlanta

Covenant House Georgia

Crossroads Community Ministries

Nicholas House

Zaban Paradies Center

Savannah

Divine Rest Inc.

Hawaii

Hilo

Hope Services Hawaii Inc.

Idaho

Boise

Interfaith Sanctuary Shelter

Illinois

Chicago

Covenant House Illinois

Lawndale Christian Health Center

The Night Ministry

The Salvation Army

Indiana

Indianapolis

Horizon House

Wheeler Mission

Iowa

Council Bluffs

MICHA House

Iowa City

Shelter House

Kansas

Topeka

Topeka Rescue Mission

Kentucky

Louisville

The Salvation Army

Louisiana

New Orleans

UNITY of Greater New Orleans

Maine

Bangor

Bangor Area Homeless Shelter

Maryland

Baltimore

Agape House Inc.

Baltimore Station

Massachusetts

Boston

Pine Street Inn

Michigan

Detroit

Covenant House Michigan

Mount Clemens

Turning Point

Minnesota

Minneapolis

St. Stephen’s Street Outreach

Mississippi

Vicksburg

Warren County Children’s Shelter

Missouri

St. Louis

Students-in-Transition (St. Louis School Board)

Montana

Billings

Montana Rescue Mission

Nebraska

Omaha

Siena/Francis House

Nevada

Las Vegas

Caridad Charity

New Hampshire

Concord

Concord Coalition to End Homelessness

Plymouth

Bridge House Inc.

New Jersey

Freehold

Destiny’s Bridge

Lawrenceville

HomeFront

Newark

Covenant House New Jersey

New Mexico

Albuquerque

Joy Junction

New York

Covenant House New York

Midnight Run

Syracuse

Rescue Mission Alliance

North Carolina

Asheville

Homeward Bound

Charlotte

Men’s Shelter of Charlotte/Urban Ministry Center

Thomasville

Cooperative Community Ministry

Winston-Salem

Bethesda Center

Samaritan Ministries

The Salvation Army

Winston-Salem Rescue Mission

North Dakota

Bismarck

Ministry on the Margins

Minot

YWCA Minot

Ohio

Akron

Community Support Services

Cincinnati

Shelterhouse

Cleveland

The City Mission Men’s Crisis Center

Columbus

Compassion Outreach Ministries

Oklahoma

Oklahoma City

City Rescue Mission

Oregon

Lebanon

Family Assistance and Resource Center

Portland

Central City Concern

Pennsylvania

Natrona

The Building Block of Natrona

Philadelphia

Bethesda Project

Covenant House Pennsylvania

Project HOME

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Mercy’s Operation Safety Net

Pottsville

Schuylkill Women in Crisis

Wilkes-Barre

The Salvation Army

Puerto Rico

San Juan

The Salvation Army

Rhode Island

Providence

Crossroads Rhode Island

South Carolina

Columbia

Transitions Homeless Center

Sioux Falls

Bishop Dudley Hospitality House

Tennessee

Kingsport

Hunger First

Memphis

Urban Bike Food Ministry

Nashville

Open Table

Texas

Austin

Mobile Loaves and Fishes

Copperas Cove

Operation Stand Down Central Texas

Dallas

The Stewpot Dallas

Farmers Branch

Just Because Inc.

Houston

Covenant House Texas

Lord of the Streets

Utah

Salt Lake City

The Road Home

Vermont

Burlington

Committee On Temporary Shelter

Virginia

Charlottesville

The Haven

Richmond

The Salvation Army

Washington

Seattle

Seattle Homeless Outreach

The Salvation Army

West Virginia

Charleston

Union Mission

Parkersburg

The Salvation Army

Wisconsin

Milwaukee

The Guest House of Milwaukee

Waukesha

Hope Center

Wyoming

Casper

Wyoming Rescue Mission

Hanes
Hanes, America’s No. 1 apparel brand, is a leading brand of intimate apparel, underwear, sleepwear, socks and casual apparel. Hanes products can be found at leading retailers nationwide and online direct to consumers at www.Hanes.com.

HanesBrands

HanesBrands is a socially responsible leading marketer of everyday basic innerwear and activewear apparel in the Americas, Europe, Australia and Asia-Pacific. The company markets T-shirts, bras, panties, shapewear, underwear, socks, hosiery, and activewear under some of the world’s strongest apparel brands, including Hanes, Champion, Bonds, Maidenform, DIM, Bali, Playtex, Bras N Things, Nur Die/Nur Der, Alternative, L’eggs, JMS/Just My Size, Lovable, Wonderbra, Berlei, and Gear for Sports. More information about the company and its award-winning corporate social responsibility initiatives may be found at www.Hanes.com/corporate. Visit our newsroom at https://newsroom.hanesbrands.com/. Connect with the company via social media: Twitter (@hanesbrands), Facebook (www.facebook.com/hanesbrandsinc), Instagram (@hanesbrands), and LinkedIn (@Hanesbrandsinc).