Clarendon woman again collecting socks to be given to homeless

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 September 2019 at 3:22 pm

Tammi Bale delivered 1,583 pairs to Open Door Mission in 2018

Provided photo: Tammi Bale, left, of Clarendon is pictured on Nov. 26 last year when she delivered 1,583 pairs of new socks to the Open Door Mission in Rochester.

Tammi Bale has kicked off her fourth annual “Just Socks, Ma” program. She collects socks in honor of her late son, Robert, and gives them to a homeless shelter in Rochester.

Last year just after Thanksgiving she delivered 1,583 pairs of new socks to the Open Door Mission in Rochester.

Bale collects the socks in honor of her son, Robert Bale. He had a good job as a HVAC technician, often working 50 hours a week. He also had a secret addiction. He used heroin. His family didn’t know it, nor did his roommate or close friends. On March 10, 2016, he had a fatal overdose at age 28.

Robert was a hard-working young man who didn’t want to burden other people, even at Christmas, his mother said. When Tammi Bale asked her son what he wanted for a present, he responded: “Just socks, Ma.”

She has collection boxes for the socks at several locations in Orleans and Monroe counties.

In Orleans they are at Dustin’s Pizzeria in Holley, Avanti Pizza in Albion and Tim Hortons in Albion.

In Monroe County, the drop-off sites for socks include: Galaxy Auto Parts, 4974 W Ridge Rd., Spencerport; Cam’s Pizzeria, 336 East Ave., Rochester; Snuggery’s, 380 S Union St., Spencerport; and ROCovery Fitness, 1035 Dewey Ave., Rochester.

The boxes will be out until Nov. 19.

Bale will also accept socks at a collection box on her porch at Thomas Estates, 327 Sunset Drive, Clarendon.

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