Editor's note: This story involves the CICW-FM community radio station where the story's reporter works.
For the third year in a row, Agilec Fergus and The Grand 101.1 are teaming up again to host a sock drive fundraiser.
According to Canada Helps, charities cannot accept used socks for sanitary purposes, and new socks are the least donated items of clothing, yet one of the most needed items.
Angeli Mehrotra, team leader at Agilec, said the organization got involved again this year because they care about giving back to the community.
“I think being a part of the fundraiser just helps us feel like we are more part of the community that we’re working in, so we do have locations throughout Ontario, and we want to make sure we are also giving back locally too,” she said.
Mehrotra said the goal of the drive is to get as many sock donations as possible because it’s really not something people think of donating.
“I know when they told me they were doing the sock drive — so, I’m very new to this location — I honestly was like, ‘oh, why aren’t we doing hats, mittens and those sorts of things?’ Because people forget about the socks,” Mehorta said. “And once I realized that, I realized, oh yeah, you know what? I’ve never really thought about how cold people are when they don’t have warm socks on their feet.”
Mehrotra said they had lots of sock donations last year because people care about giving back to their community. But they also promote that when you donate a pair of socks, your name gets entered into a draw to win a gift.
“This year though, so far, we’ve had people who are refusing to put their names in for the gift because they just really want to give back to the community, and I think they know it’s been a harder year because of COVID-19, so they are trying to do as much as they can,” Mehrotra said.
The sock drive wraps up at the end of December, and then all sock donations will be given to the Centre Wellington Food Bank, so they can distribute them to those in need in the community.
New socks for women, men, and children can be dropped off at Agilec at 370 St. Andrew St. W. or The Grand at 101.1 at 540 Garafraxa St. E.
Angeli Mehrotra, team leader at Agilec Fergus: