Outreach in Action
’Sock it to me’ is back in style thanks to Outreach relationship with Bombas
by Jo Mayer and Paul Crandall
The popular 1960s expression “sock it to me” assumes a literal meaning at Outreach thanks to a fruitful partnership with a mission-driven clothing company called Bombas.
“We feel lucky to be one of Bombas’ partners,” said Outreach director Gwen Reid. “Socks are such a basic need and one of those items that often can’t be accepted used. And Bombas socks are such good quality! We are proud to hand them out!”
Since the partnership’s inception in 2018, Outreach has received and distributed close to 5,000 pairs of socks donated by the company.
On the company website, Bombas founders, Dan Heath and Randy Goldberg, mention that they first became aware in 2011 that socks are the most requested clothing item at homeless shelters. Their response? For every pair of Bombas socks sold, they would donate a pair to folks in need.
Productive grant writing by Outreach’s former director, Karen Smith, and more recently, by Reid, kickstarted Outreach’s relationship with Bombas and has sustained the effort over the past seven years.
The Bombas website also sheds light on how the company’s name reflects its mission.
“Bombas comes from the Latin word for bumblebee. Bees work together to make their hive a better place. We like that. On the inside of every pair of socks, we stitch these words: Bee Better.”
Starting out, Heath and Goldberg learned that socks haven’t substantially changed in over 50 years, so they spent two years on research and development in a quest to engineer the perfect sock. Since the first pair sold in 2013, Bombas has sold over 150 million pairs—and matched that with an equal number of donations.
Buoyed by its hit with hosiery, the company has branched out to satisfy other oft-stated needs of the unhoused: underwear and t-shirts.
Outreach hopes to benefit soon from the new Bombas clothing line. For now, Outreach is “socking it to” clients during the Backpack Giveaway in August, Tide Me Over bags in October, annual Holiday programs, and through its free clothing store.
Outreach also shares socks with other regional agencies serving those who face homelessness or are housing- or food-insecure.
For more information about Bombas, visit www.Bombas.com
