Vermont organizations distribute 11,000 pairs of children's socks

A holiday season charitable initiative that drew accolades last year for distributing thousands of pairs of warm socks to needy Vermont youngsters will reach even more children this year, organizers announced today. Governor James Douglas joined representatives of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont and Cabot Hosiery Mills, Inc. at a Northfield sock factory today to announce that eleven thousand pairs of top quality merino wool socks will be distributed to needy children this year, a thousand more pairs than last year, thanks to the joint efforts of a charitable foundation affiliated with Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Cabot, and the state’s community action agencies and homeless shelters.
Douglas, who helped announce the launch of the “Blue Socks for Kids” project last year, again praised the initiative as an excellent example of private organizations working together to help their neighbors during difficult economic times. Douglas later helped load boxes of socks into volunteers’ vehicles for distribution.
The Vermont Caring Foundation, a non-profit charitable foundation whose mission is to advance and improve the health of Vermonters, provided $30,000 to finance this year’s initiative and Cabot Hosiery Mills, Inc. of Northfield, the state’s (and Northeast’s) only sock manufacturer, produced 11,000 pairs of socks specifically for “Blue Socks for Kids.” The state’s community action agencies and seven homeless shelters will distribute the socks to Vermont’s neediest children.
Project organizers cited the favorable response from agency executives after last year’s sock distribution as encouragement for continuing and expanding the project this year. “…thank you for your generous gift to our clients; and for the inventiveness that went into conceiving and executing this highly original program,” wrote one agency executive director.
“Parents were thankful and impressed. I got the special opportunity of seeing children who simply could not wait to wear their new socks,” added another. “I watched several children as they proceeded to take their boots off and put on a pair of their new socks immediately!” “The purpose of The Vermont Caring Foundation is to improve the health of Vermonters, especially children,” explained Don George, President and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont. “The response from last year warmed our hearts and we are pleased we are able to help our neighbors again this year.”
“This partnership will get new, quality Vermont-made socks onto the feet of kids in these trying times for many Vermont families,” said Ric Cabot, Executive Vice President of Cabot Hosiery Mills, Inc. “We are excited the project is continuing this winter and that our socks will make some kids warmer this holiday season.”
Research from Canada and the United States indicates that warm underclothing is high on the list of needs among the low income and homeless living in cold climates. An Oregon summit on the needs of low income folks and the homeless in winter came up with two priorities – socks and healthcare.
About The Vermont Caring FoundationThe Vermont Caring Foundation exists to advance and improve the health of all Vermonters, particularly children and teenagers. The Foundation seeks to fulfill its mission by raising and distributing funds to support local programs whose primary purpose is health education, prevention, research, promotion and/or improvement. The Foundation granted $17,000 to six projects in the first half of 2009 before deciding to use its remaining 2009 grant budget to invest $30,000 toward the Blue Socks for Kids project.
About Cabot Hosiery Mills, Inc.Cabot Hosiery Mills, Inc. is a Northfield, VT- based sock manufacturer and the only sock maker in Vermont and the Northeast. Cabot makes socks for a broad range of private-label customers including Bass Shoes, L.L. Bean and Orvis. The newest addition to the Cabot line is the “Darn Tough Vermont” label, a premium, all-weather performance sock knitted of 100 percent merino wool, Lycra, nylon and elastic to meet the needs of the outdoors person.
About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of VermontBlue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont is the state’s oldest and largest private health insurer, providing coverage for about 160,000 Vermonters. It employs over 350 Vermonters at its headquarters in Berlin and branch office in Williston, and offers group and individual health plans to Vermonters. More information about Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont is available on the internet at www.bcbsvt.com. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont is an independent corporation operating under a license with the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans.
Source: Governor's office. 12.21.2009