For immediate release: January 3, 2011
Contact: Kevin Goddard  (802) 371-3244

Berlin, Vt. – Thousands of needy Vermont youngsters will be able to enjoy warm, high-quality socks again this winter, thanks to the joint efforts of a charitable foundation affiliated with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont, Cabot Hosiery Mills of Northfield, Vermont, and the state’s community action agencies and homeless shelters.

“Blue Socks for Kids” project volunteers this week delivered 11 thousand pairs of top-quality, Vermont-made merino wool socks to the state’s community action agencies and homeless shelters for distribution to children in need of warm clothing.

This is the third year the participating organizations in “Blue Socks for Kids” have joined forces to improve the health and comfort of Vermont children.

The Vermont Caring Foundation, a non-profit charitable foundation whose mission is to advance and improve the health of Vermonters, provided $27,500 to finance 11,000 pairs of top-quality merino wool socks made specifically for “Blue Socks for Kids” by Cabot Hosiery Mills, the state’s (and Northeast’s) only sock manufacturer.
 
“Blue Socks for Kids” has distributed nearly 33,000 pairs of socks at a cost of more than $81,000 over the three years the project has operated.  

“This initiative has been very successful and warmly received by everyone involved,” noted BCBSVT President and CEO Don George. “The purpose of The Vermont Caring Foundation is to improve Vermonters’ health, particularly children,” George explained. “This is a good way to help keep Vermont kids warm and healthy through the winter.”

Research from Canada and the United States indicates that warm underclothing is high on the list of needs among the low income and homeless living in cold climates. An Oregon summit on the needs of low income folks and the homeless in winter came up with two priorities – socks and healthcare.

“Everyone deserves access to warm, high-quality socks during the winter,” added Ric Cabot, owner of Cabot Hosiery Mills. “As a company that’s been a part of the Vermont community for over 30 years, the Blue Socks for Kids program is a great way to thank the community for all its support and to help give back. It brings us a lot of joy and satisfaction to help Vermont’s children.”   

The Vermont Caring Foundation receives financial support from several business groups in Vermont, who collectively purchase their health insurance through the Vermont Health Services Group and donate VHSG membership dues to the Foundation. The participating business groups, whose donations help to make possible the Blue Socks For Kids program, include the Vermont Retail Association, the Vermont Grocers Association, the Vermont Medical Society, Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility and the Women Business Owner’s Network of Vermont.

About The Vermont Caring Foundation
The Vermont Caring Foundation exists to advance and improve the health of all Vermonters, particularly children and teenagers. The Foundation seeks to fulfill its mission by raising and distributing funds to support local programs whose primary purpose is health education, prevention, research, promotion and/or improvement. The Foundation has granted more than $81,000 to finance the purchase of 33,000 pairs of high-quality socks for distribution to needy Vermont children through the Blue Socks for Kids project over its three-year run.

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont is the state’s oldest and largest private health insurer, providing coverage for about 150,000 Vermonters. It employs over 340 Vermonters at its headquarters in Berlin and branch office in South Burlington, and offers group and individual health plans to Vermonters. More information about Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont is available on the internet at www.bcbsvt.com. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont is an independent corporation operating under a license with the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans.

About Cabot Hosiery Mills, Inc.
Cabot Hosiery Mills, Inc. is a Northfield, VT- based sock manufacturer and the only sock maker in Vermont and the Northeast. Cabot makes socks for a broad range of private-label customers including Bass Shoes, L.L. Bean and Orvis. The newest addition to the Cabot line is the “Darn Tough Vermont” label, a premium, all-weather performance sock knitted from fine-gauge merino wool yarns, Lycra, nylon and elastic to meet the needs of the outdoors person.