BUCKHANNON – Buckhannon’s Shoe Sensation doubled their Socks for Veterans drive goal.
Shoe Sensation store manager Genevia Jenkins said their store started accepting donations of socks Nov. 1, 2021, and their initial goal was 1,000.
“We ended up with 2,057 pairs of socks, so once we reached 1,000, and we had so much time left in the benefit time, which was Nov. 1 through Dec. 31, we decided to shoot for 2,000,” Jenkins said. “We reached out to our customers and told them we were almost there, and everybody was just so great about pitching in, and we surpassed the goal of 2,000, and I will be delivering them to the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center today.”
Jenkins said individual Shoe Sensation stores get to choose who they partner with, so they selected a facility where their donation would make the most impact.
“We’ve partnered with them because they have programs that are in conjunction with the homeless and veterans, and that’s who our customers would like for these to go to,” Jenkins said. “Shoe Sensation does this nationwide; over 200 stores contribute to the Socks for Troops campaign, and it’s just an exciting day because it’s going to make a huge difference. This has a huge impact for the homeless veterans.”
This was the first year Jenkins participated in the Socks for Troops campaign, but she hopes their store can collect even more next year.
“I’m sure we probably will go higher next year because the community is getting to know us better,” Jenkins said. “They’re getting to know that we’re here for them, and the great thing about donating here at the store is taking the work out of donating. Our customers know when they drop those socks off that we will get them in the hands of the homeless veterans.”
She was also happily surprised they doubled their initial goal.
“It’s pretty amazing — I just feel so blessed that I got to be a part of it because I made an impact on our community,” Jenkins said. “Shoe Sensation empowers all of their store managers to partner with their community and see the contributions we’re making, and this one definitely hit the mark for giving back. I feel really blessed and very privileged that I get to be a part of it.”
