Vero Beach sock drive aims to help homeless stay warm during winter

VERO BEACH, Fla. — The sixth annual Vero Beach Sock Drive is in full swing and a group is making sure the homeless aren’t forgotten this winter and spreading some warmth, from head to toe.

Volunteers are collecting socks, and other warm clothing, to give to shelters across Indian River County.

Karen Lucas attended WPTV's "Let’s Hear It" viewer meet-up event in Tradition. She said she began working with founder, Barry Shapiro, a few years ago. They said the most requested item in homeless shelters is socks.

“The rest of us take it for granted that we just open our drawer and pull out a clean pair of socks like it's nothing,” Lucas said. “When you’re sleeping out on the side of the street, that’s really something.”

Lucas said recently, they have seen more families and kids in shelters.

Just last year, volunteers collected more than 18,000 pairs of socks. This year they've set out to collect at least 20,000 pairs.

“I think we’re going to do it,” Lucas said. “Every year we set the goal a little higher, and every year we seem to do it, so I think we could do it.”

Collection boxes are spread throughout the county at more than 40 locations through the end of the month.

The collection boxes are located at the following locations:

Vero Beach:

• 14 Bones: 1500 US-1, Vero Beach, FL 32960
• Alexander Insurance: 4616 20^th Ave, Vero Beach, FL 32966
• Botanica: 23 Royal Palm Pointe, Vero Beach, FL 32960
• C.J. Cannon’s: VB Airport Terminal, 3414 Cherokee Dr, Vero Beach, FL 32960
• Christi’s Fitness: 1250 Old Dixie Hwy, Vero Beach, FL 32960
• Coffee House 1420: 2011 14^th Ave, Vero Beach, FL 32960
• Dale Sorensen Real Estate (Beachside): 3206 Cardinal Dr, Vero Beach, FL 32963
• Dale Sorensen Real Estate (Downtown): 1961 14^th Ave, Vero Beach, FL 32960
• Dixie Barber Shop: 830 8^th St, Vero Beach, FL 32962
• Engel & Volkers Real Estate: 821A Beachland Blvd, Vero Beach, FL 32963
• First Presbyterian Church: 520 Royal Palm Blvd, Vero Beach, FL 32960
• Frank’s Hang-Up: 485 22^nd Place, Vero Beach, FL 32960
• Gordon Chiropractic: 1986 31^st Ave #110, Vero Beach, FL 32960
• Grace Lutheran Church: 1150 41^st Ave, Vero Beach, FL 32966
• Green Marlin: 1475 US-1, Vero Beach, FL 32960
• Holy Cross Catholic Church: 500 Iris Ln, Vero Beach, FL 32963
• Indian River Charter High School: 6055 College Ln, Vero Beach, 32966
• Indian River County Administration Building: 1801 27^th St A, Vero Beach, FL 32960
• Indian River County Intergenerational Center: 1590 9^th St SW, Vero Beach, FL 32962
• Loyal Order of Moose Lodge #1822: 226 43^rd Ave, Vero Beach, FL 32968
• Marine Bank & Trust: 571 Beachland Blvd, Vero Beach, FL 32963
• Marine Bank & Trust: 1450 US-1, Vero Beach, FL 32960
• Mr. Smokes: 1014 20^th Pl, Vero Beach, FL 32960
• Orangetheory Fitness: 5420 US-1, Vero Beach, FL 32967
• Sean Ryan Pub: 2019 14^th Avenue, Vero Beach, FL 32960
• Suncoast Primary School: 3050 43^rd Ave, Vero Beach, FL 32960
• Sunshine Travel RV Resort: 9455 108^th Ave, Vero Beach, FL 32967
• Temple Beth Shalom: 365 43^rd Ave, Vero Beach, FL 32968
• The Center for Spiritual Care: 1550 24^th St, Vero Beach, FL 32960
• The Italian American Club: 1600 25^th St, Vero Beach, FL 32960
• United Against Poverty: 1400 27^th St, Vero Beach, FL 32960
• Vero Beach Art Club: 1903 14^th Ave, Vero Beach, FL 32960
• Vero Beach Chamber of Commerce: 1957 14^th Ave, Vero Beach, FL 32960
• Vero Beach City Hall: 1053 20^th Pl, Vero Beach, FL 32960
• Waldo’s- at the Driftwood Inn, Ocean Drive, Vero Beach, FL 32960

Sebastian:

• By the River: 11065 Ganga Way #311 Sebastian, FL 32958
• Hen House Eatery: 11632 US-1, Sebastian, FL 32958
• Marine Bank & Trust: 1020 US-1, Sebastian, FL 32958
• Pack Mart: 13537 US-1, Sebastian, FL 32958
• Sebastian City Hall (Main Lobby): 1225 Main St, Sebastian, FL 32958

Fort Pierce:

• Hometown News Treasure Coast: 5059 Turnpike Feeder Rd, Fort Pierce, FL 34951