To celebrate Giving Tuesday, local and online retailer The Sock Drawer plans to donate 5% of its proceeds for the day to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization.
Giving Tuesday, Dec. 3, follows the busy shopping days after Thanksgiving that include Black Friday and Cyber Monday, serving as a reminder to both businesses and shoppers to prioritize charitable giving during the holiday season.
“We selected NAMI as our Giving Tuesday recipient because they are dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness,” said Brooke English, founder and CEO of The Sock Drawer. “Mental health is something we regularly discuss here at The Sock Drawer, and I am personally committed to openly talking about my experience with therapy, in hopes that it can and will inspire others to seek out mental health support. I can’t think of a more deserving group than NAMI.”
NAMI started in 1979 and has more than 500 affiliates in communities across the U.S. providing support and education for both those with mental illnesses and their loved ones.
The Sock Drawer, a novelty sock seller in San Luis Obispo, California, since 2007, has a record of donating to related causes. In particular, the retailer makes regular donations to local nonprofit Transitions-Mental Health Association.
“With 1 in 5 adults and 1 in 6 youth living with mental illness, NAMI envisions a nation where we all can recognize the signs of mental illness for those in need — for themselves, their families, their students, their neighbors,” said The Sock Drawer general manager Cindy Johnson, who has also served on the Transitions board for 10 years. “This mission aligns with The Sock Drawer’s values to care, for real.”
In addition to donating 5% of the day’s proceeds from both The Sock Drawer’s downtown shop and website to NAMI, the retailer will also donate some socks to Transitions this year.
It’s part of a program of promotions and activities the sock seller has planned for the busiest shopping week of the year.
“The time around Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday is really special for us,” English said. “We are super busy helping customers and shipping socks around the world, and it’s a fun and magical time. There’s something in the air. Giving Tuesday adds to that joy and really helps us remember what’s important about the holidays.”
English invites locals to make sure they pop into the shop soon to take advantage of deals, see the upcoming seasonal window display and enjoy the “warm vibe of downtown SLO at the holidays.”
“And if you shop with us on Giving Tuesday, either in the shop or online, you can feel extra good about your purchase!” English said.
ABOUT THE SOCK DRAWER
The Sock Drawer is a popular seller of fun, colorful novelty socks in downtown San Luis Obispo, California, and online at https://sockdrawer.com/. The business has thrived since 2007 and is known for its hand-picked selection of hundreds of patterns and styles for women, men and kids. Certified as an official Great Place to Work®, the retailer is owned by Brooke English and employs 16 year-round staff, plus dozens more seasonal employees.