Staff at the Brantford Public Library are giving out 1,000 pairs of socks to those experiencing homelessness in the community.
The initiative is thanks to a donation from the Canadian non-profit charity Socks 4 Souls, which procures socks and monetary donations from schools, corporate partners and more.
“This is a great opportunity to make an instant and meaningful impact in the lives of homeless residents” explained Rae-Lynne Aramburo, the Library’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Librarian.
The Library’s social services outreach worker, Alana Bray, will administer the distribution of the socks at the Main Branch in downtown Brantford during her drop-in hours and also during the Library’s Community Connections program. Residents are not required to join the Library to collect socks.
This is the latest initiative led by the Library’s social services outreach worker position, which was created in early 2022 to help connect marginalized individuals to invaluable supports and services through one-on-one meetings and supportive group meet-ups.
Another recent initiative is the popular Community Connections drop-in program, which runs Friday afternoons from 2-4 p.m. at the Main Branch. Through this program, people of all ages drop in to socialize, learn about community resources and connect with other community service agencies.
“The Library is a comfortable and welcoming place for all residents to come for trusted information,” said Aramburo. “As the community has evolved, the information needs of residents have expanded and we have adapted our services to facilitate access to community information, supports and resources.”
