Key points

• Raine & Horne expects to donate many hundreds of swanky new socks as part of its latest community campaign Take a walk in their socks to support Dignity, a charity focussed on addressing homelessness in Australia.
• Dignity operates guest homes that provide shelter for up to 180 Australians every night of the year, and since 2015, has supported 65,000 Australians
• Dignity is the recently launched Raine & Horne Foundation’s inaugural community support partner. 

 Sydney, NSW (17 September 2021) For many Australians forced to work from home this winter because of lockdowns, a tracksuit combined with a swanky pair of socks have replaced the corporate wardrobe regulars of a business suit, high heels, and crisply ironed shirts.

However, not everyone has the luxury of warm and comfortable footwear. To ensure more Australians benefit from this basic need, the Raine & Horne Foundation has launched its latest community campaign in a bid to donate hundreds of pairs of new socks to Dignity, a charity taking a different approach to addressing homelessness in Australia.

Angus Raine, Executive Chairman, Raine & Horne, said, “We launched the Raine & Horne Foundation in July, and with it – we announced our partnership with Dignity, the charity endeavouring to end homelessness in Australia.

“We want to help in a productive way, which is why we've joined forces with Swanky Socks for our campaign, Take a walk in their socks. Socks aren't the first thing that comes to mind when helping to fight homelessness, which is why they are often overlooked, yet essential in empowering people to find their feet.”

Buy some Raine & Horne Branded Socks and a pair will be donated to Dignity

The concept of the campaign is simple. Raine & Horne employees can order a pair of socks valued at $9.95 embossed with the Superbrand’s famous Ampersand from Swanky Socks.

In response to this purchase by its staff members, a pair of unbranded Swanky Socks will be dontated directly to Dignity to pass onto guests in their homes and people in need in the community. 

“Often, when people experiencing homelessness arrive at Dignity’s supported temporary guest homes, they have very little in the way of personal belongings,” Mr Raine said. 

“Along with underwear, socks are one of the most asked for items of clothing and the socks generously donated by our Foundation will be distributed to the men, women and children staying with Dignity.” 

Ms Suzanne Hopman, CEO of Dignity, agreed the Swanky Sock’s campaign is timely following an increase in demand for Dignity’s services due to COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions.

“It is so wonderful to see the Raine & Horne group come together in support of people experiencing homelessness. We often take for granted the simple pleasure of a pair of fresh, new socks, and I am so pleased that we will be able to provide them to our guests.”

Empowering people experiencing homelessness with Dignity

Dignity currently provides supported temporary accommodation and longer-term stable housing for up to 180 people every night of the year and operates multiple programs to prevent homelessness, including food relief and education across Australia. Since Dignity’s inception, more than 65,000 people have been supported. 

“The generous support and partnership with Raine & Horne were initiated at a time when Dignity identified a surge in demand for our services due to the ongoing health pandemic, and the collaboration with the Raine & Horne Foundation has helped make an impact on the lives of those who need it most,” Ms Hopman said. 

According to Ms Hopman, in the past three months, Dignity’s supported temporary guest houses that accommodate men, women, and children have experienced full occupancy on most nights with guests requiring longer stays and higher levels of support due to lockdown restrictions and with many other services currently inaccessible. 

“Thanks to Raine & Horne’s support, we have been able to rise to many of the challenges we have faced since the start of lockdowns,” Ms Hopman said. 

To illustrate, when Tracey and John both lost their jobs, they found themselves experiencing homelessness for the first time. While staying with Dignity in supported temporary accommodation, the couple were able to plan for a fresh way forward. “Thank you for a safe place for my family when we had nowhere and nothing,” Tracey said.

Ms Anjee Hopton, National Marketing Manager, Raine & Horne Group, said, “We are delighted that we can lend a hand by supporting the fantastic work of an organisation such as Dignity, and we hope to donate many hundreds of pairs of new socks to those who are doing it tough in the middle of a pandemic.”

–ENDS– 

 For further media information contact:

Angus Raine, Executive Chairman, Raine & Horne on 0409 920 697

Suzanne Hopman, CEO & Founder, Dignity on 0407 564 166

Olivia Rowe, Content & Communications Executive, Raine & Horne Group on 0432 113 569