TENNERTON – The Buckhannon Shoe Sensation kicked off their Socks for Troops drive this week.

Shoe Sensation store manager Genevia Jenkins said the entire company participates in the event for troops and veterans, which allows customers to purchase a pair of socks that are then donated to a local charity partner — in this case, the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center in Clarksburg.

“It includes veterans, active troops and retired troops,” Jenkins said. “Each store manager is encouraged to partner with someone in the community or surrounding community that can benefit from the socks that customers will purchase in the store, or they can bring socks that were purchased outside the store. I partnered with the VA Hospital in Clarksburg. I contacted them and asked them what the need was, and partnered with their volunteer service specialist.”

Jenkins said the specialist keeps track of homeless veterans in the surrounding area.

“They were very, very happy that we had partnered with them,” Jenkins said. “This fundraiser runs from Nov. 1 all the way to Dec. 31, and then I will be meeting up with them and giving them all the donations we received.”

Customers who buy socks for the drive at the Buckhannon Shoe Sensation will receive 20 percent off any socks purchased and a $10 off coupon for their next purchase of $50 or more.

“We’re excited about partnering with the VA Hospital,” Jenkins said. “They see so much, and they are a major resource for anybody who is in the Armed Forces. We have set a personal goal for the store: We would like to collect at least 100 packs of socks for the veterans, so we’re hoping that we have a great reaction from the community.”

Jenkins said a lot of their customers are veterans, and she has met several nurses who work at the hospital.

“There’s a large percentage of nurses in Buckhannon that work at the VA Hospital, and a large percentage of practitioners in our area that drive over there and work every day,” she said. “They are on the frontlines; they see it all. It’s not something we talk about all the time, but there is a definite need, and the VA Hospital serves all the surrounding counties. It’s a great way for us to give back to our community, but at the same time to our surrounding community, too.”