Sock Out Cancer will manufacture all of its signature fundraising socks at Finger Lakes Textiles in Waterloo under a partnership intended to create employment opportunities for people with disabilities and other barriers in Seneca County.
Finger Lakes Textiles, a manufacturing division of Mozaic, said its inclusive workforce will produce every pair sold by the nonprofit initiative. Workers will gain manufacturing experience and job skills while supporting a program that assists cancer patients and their families.
Sock Out Cancer uses proceeds from sock sales, donations and community fundraising to help financially distressed families pay for nonmedical needs including food, transportation and housing. Money is distributed through participating hospital foundations.
The organization has distributed more than $2 million since it was established in 2017, according to the release. Sock Out Cancer trustee Bruce Boyea said the organization had spent six years seeking a way to manufacture its socks in the United States.
Mozaic President and CEO Allen Connely said the partnership expands the impact of each purchase by supporting both cancer patients and local employment. Mozaic provides employment and community services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and other barriers across Central New York and the Finger Lakes.
Sock Out Cancer is owned by the Security Mutual Life Foundation, a New York public charity. The socks are available through the Sock Out Cancer website.
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