Augusta, Ga. (November 10, 2023) – Piedmont Augusta team members collected nearly 800 pairs of socks during Socktober to donate to area homeless shelters.

Socktober is an annual campaign launched in 2021 by Compass One, the umbrella company of Morrison Healthcare, that operates Piedmont Augusta’s Food and Nutrition Services. In three years, Compass One partner hospitals have collected more than 310,000 pairs of socks.

“The Food and Nutrition team is proud to partner each year with Piedmont Augusta to help collect and deliver socks for Socktober,” said Rex Bartles director of operations for Food and Nutrition Services at Piedmont Augusta. “Homeless shelters across the nation go through socks quickly, making them one of the most sought-after items by men, women and children who utilize their facilities. It gives us a great deal of satisfaction to work together to fill a need so small, and yet very impactful.”

Bartles commended the special efforts this year of Doreen Luis, M.D., who energized fellow Emergency Department team members to donate 600 pairs of the 800 collected. “Thank you so much Dr. Luis, the ED and the entire Piedmont Augusta family for making this year's Socktober a huge success.”  

Compass One Chief Executive Officer Bobby Kutteh said, "Each pair of donated socks is a small ray of hope for those in need. This year we are making an even bigger impact in the communities we so proudly serve.”

Socktober has evolved from a grassroots effort into a company-wide signature event for Compass One Healthcare each October to showcase their generosity and commitment to their communities.

“I could not be prouder of our Compass One associates and our Piedmont Augusta family for their participation and kindness to those less fortunate,” Bartles said. “I think it speaks volumes about our culture.”