STRATHFIELDSAYE Storm football players are doing their bit for the community.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Coach Darryl Wilson asked players to come to training with socks to donate to A Gift of Sox.
Bendigo retiree Lorna Wight founded the charity in June last year and is on a mission to supply new socks to homeless men living in Victoria.
Last year, with the support of family, friends and the Bendigo community, Ms Wight collected 1250 pairs of socks to help 625 homeless men survive the winter months.
Earlier this year, Ms Wight put out a call for Bendigo football and netball clubs to support the cause.
Strath Storm players Shannon Geary, Lachlan Bonney and Jayden Donaldson handed over a box of more than 100 socks to Ms Wight this week.
"We made a conscious effort at the start of the year to try and find something that we could do outside footy as a group," Mr Geary said.
"We're a pretty lucky resource where we're able to get a lot of people in the same spot at the same time so doing things like this is fairly easy to organise.
"It doesn't take much from our end and it means a lot from the recipients.
"It's a pretty easy thing to donate a couple of pairs of socks so everyone either donated socks or a beanie or gloves and we also have a couple of hats in there, too.
"It was good to be a part of and a great way to make a difference within the community."
Ms Wight thanked the club for its contributed and encouraged other clubs to get on board.
"I have people knitting beanies and fingerless gloves and donating socks which is great," she said.
Last year socks were donated to Bendigo Community Health Services, Unity Care in Bendigo, the Salvation Army in St Arnaud and Mildura, Hanover in Melbourne, the Home of Mercy in Fitzroy, Ozoman House in Melbourne, Flagstaff Crisis Centre in Melbourne, and Doutta Galla in Melbourne.
"It all started because I was a bit bored," Ms Wight said.
"I did a bit of research and found there was a need.
"I fund it myself if someone hasn't donated socks I just buy them myself and pay for the postage.
"That's just my way of giving back.
"I've had a nice life so it's nice to do something for someone else."
People can donate socks, knit fingerless gloves and beanies or donate money by calling Ms Wight on 0419 001 593 or emailing agiftofsox@gmail.com
People can also read more about the A Gift of Sox and see photos of organisations that have received socks by visiting Ms Wight's blog at www.agiftofsox.com