To help Indy’s homeless population stay warm this winter, the Indiana Independent Venue Alliance (IIVA) proudly launches its 2nd annual SOCK ON Sock Drive. The statewide drive is collecting new socks at various venues in Indianapolis, Bloomington and Nashville, Ind. started Thursday, Dec. 30 and continues through Friday, Feb 18. The IIVA has partnered with Horizon House (1033 E. Washington St, Indianapolis) – a full-service agency that connects individuals experiencing homelessness with integrated, comprehensive services – to ensure donated items are getting to the people and communities that need them most.
WHY
After the success of the organization’s first sock drive in early 2021, which collected nearly 2,000 pairs of socks, IIVA has made a commitment to continue this annual drive. Since March of 2020, venues have struggled to stay open and maintain their businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic. While it’s been a hard road for Indy’s music venues, they are thankful to have a roof over their head and a warm bed to sleep in. It’s this perspective that prompted the IIVA to focus their attention on the communities that support their venues. With winter here, and many residents in need, the IIVA is giving back to help our friends currently experiencing tough times. The public is encouraged to lend a hand and show their support with something often taken for granted – a new pair of socks. Sock donations will be delivered to Horizon House for distribution to those in need at the completion of the drive.
VIRGINIA AVE MERCANTILE
In addition to our donation boxes at HI-FI, swing by our new Fountain Square gift shop – The Virginia Ave Mercantile. The Mercantile is located next door to HI-FI directly on the Indianapolis Cultural Trail and is one of the many donation locations for IIVA’s sock drive where you drop off donations. Additionally, for every pair of No Bad Ideas socks purchased at the mercantile, we will donate a pair to IIVA’s ‘Sock On’ drive.
So far, the mercantile has received many generous donations from some amazing Hoosiers. So many that we had to add a second box!!
Virginia Ave Mercantile is open Monday-Friday 10AM-6PM. We are located in Fountain Square at 1043 Virginia Ave Suite 2.
UPCOMING SHOWS
Here are some upcoming HI-FI shows that you will have the chance to donate at:
Jan. 21: G. Love & The Juice
Jan. 26: Armchair Boogie
Jan. 27: Magic City Hippies
Jan. 28: Justin Wells & Cole Chaney
Jan. 29: Wild Rivers
Feb. 3: Tenille Townes
Feb. 4: The Palace
Feb. 5: Brittney Spencer
Feb. 6: Big Mountain
Feb. 9: Daniel Donato
OTHER WAYS TO SUPPORT IIVA’S ‘SOCK ON’ DRIVE
Hoosiers can support the IIVA’s Sock On sock drive in these ways:
*Please note: All donations must be in factory-sealed packaging.
- Local Donation Locations:
Drop off a pair of new socks at Virginia Ave Mercantile or bring them to a HI-FI show and donate at the venue. - Order and Ship:
Order socks directly from Amazon with IIVA Amazon Smile, or other online retailers, and have them shipped to our IIVA headquarters: 1043 Virginia Ave Suite 2 Indianapolis, IN. Be sure to use the Amazon Smile link when ordering and IIVA will receive a portion of the proceeds. - Share With Friends
Share our message with your friends, neighbors and employees and encourage them to participate.