Darn it: Bloomfield Resident Holds Sock Drive to Help the Needy

For the third year in a row, Teri Furr is asking Bloomfield to donate socks. Until Sunday, March 3, Bloomfield residents are asked to donate new socks to help Essex County residents in need. 

The choice to emphasize socks over other garments may seem odd, but Furr told Patch that the clothing choice was the result of extensive research and a coincidental family gift.

"I just started looking around the internet and discovered that socks were the most requested item in shelters," Furr said. "Coincidentally, my sister had given me three pair of knee socks as a Christmas present that year and I loved them. They were warm and comfy and so collecting socks seemed like an obvious task!"

The socks will be distributed to three Essex County charitable groups: Real House Inc., a center with locations in Bloomfield and Montclair that provide services to women who need shelter, intensive outpatient or halfway house treatment; Gospel Services, a private organization in Irvington that helps homeless menand women and Montclair’s Human Needs Food Pantry.

Residents interested in participating can drop off new mens and womens socks in designated drop boxes at Brookdale ShopRite’s Customer Service (1409 Broad Street) and Broughton Dry Cleaners (1125 Broughton Avenue)— oth in Bloomfield—or at Sharron Miller’s Academy of Performing Arts (14 South Park Street, second floor) in Montclair.

For more information or any questions concerning the sock drive, contact tfurr512@verizon.net and list “Sock Drive” in the subject line.