Jennifer Pittorino
Foodbank Victoria has partnered with Underworks to help vulnerable people doing it tough this winter by setting up the I Give A Sock campaign.
The I Give A Sock campaign works through shared posts, anyone in Australia can ‘give a sock’ to those in need by simply sharing a post on their own Instagram.
In exchange for every post shared on Instagram in July, either via a user’s feed or story, the retailer will donate a pair of socks or an essential clothing item to those in need.
Underworks has gathered 20,000 pairs of socks ready to donate, along with many other essential clothing items, including underwear and thermal under layers.
The socks will be distributed through Underworks’ charity partners like Foodbank Yarraville and others including The Salvation Army, Lighthouse Foundation and Thread Together.
The campaign runs every year in July, with over 30,000 pairs of socks donated in the past 12 months alone.
According to Thread Together, more than 3.5 million people do not have access to essential clothing, which equates to around one in eight adults and one in six children.
Chief Executive of Foodbank Victoria Matt Tilley said for those already struggling, winter is the hardest time.
“Given we are officially in the worst cost-of-living crisis on record, it’s doubly so right now,” he said.
“We’re in the business of making sure every single Aussie has access to the basics, socks and jocks aren’t just for Father’s Day, they’re literally our clothing basics.
“So partnering with #IGiveASock makes perfect sense. With 1.3 million kids already living in homes where there’s not enough to go around, #IGiveASock couldn’t have come at a better time for so many families.”
