A step in the right direction: AgFirst employees hold sock drive for homeless

AgFirst Farm Credit Bank employees are helping others start the year on the right foot. Employees donated enough money to purchase more than 1,000 new pairs of socks as well as additional winter clothes for clients of Transitions Homeless Center.

The Bank usually holds drives for the center over the holidays and this year made the event virtual because most employees are working remotely. Rochelle Lawrence, AgFirst operations systems trainer, organized the drive and said the donation will help in multiple ways.

“The donation will help both clients of Transitions as well as homeless men and women who use the winter shelter,” said Lawrence. “The shelter opens when the temperature drops below 40 degrees. Last year it was open 68 times and averaged 106 clients a night. There is a great need in our community right now and I am glad so many employees participated in the drive.” 

Transitions has maintained services during the COVID-19 pandemic and struggled like other nonprofits and businesses during this time. This donation is desperately needed because many groups opted not to participate in typical fundraising efforts this year. 

“Many church and business groups did not have their usual coat, hat, gloves and other winter weather clothing drives as they did in the past,” said Transitions CEO Craig Currey. “These funds from AgFirst come at our busiest time of the year and we really appreciate the AgFirst employees for their generosity and desire to provide this incredible support despite COVID limitations.”

Transitions continued the mission as employees and volunteers helped more than 3,300 clients through various programs, served more than 216,000 meals and moved 344 clients into safe permanent housing this year.

AgFirst employees are proud to partner with Transitions and hopeful that this sock donation could be the step in the right direction for someone.