ON MOST NIGHTS, MORE THAN 500,000 INDIVIDUALS IN THE U.S. EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS1

WHAT CAN SOCKS, UNDERWEAR, AND T‑SHIRTS DO TO HELP?

A lot, it turns out.

In our first Impact Report, we will start to tell the stories behind the numbers, providing transparency into the evolution and process behind our One Purchased = One Donated business model and the Infrastructure of Giving that makes it all happen.

This is the story of how small acts of humankindness, taken in aggregate, turn into something big.

Bombas works with 3,500+ Giving Partners
Giving Partners include shelters, non-profits, and organizations in all 50 states

THE STORY (AND IMPACT) GOES BEYOND CLOTHING

When our customers make a purchase, they spark a donation, helping to keep our Giving Partners stocked up with plenty of socks, underwear, and t-shirts to distribute to those who need them.

AFTER RECEIVING BOMBAS DONATIONS...

61% of Giving Partners say working with Bombas has increased community engagement

of Giving Partners say that working with Bombas has increased community engagement.

71% of Giving Partners say Bombas donations are an important outreach and relationship tool

of Giving Partners say that Bombas donation products have been an important tool for outreach and relationship building.

99% of Giving Partners say working with Bombas has increased their community impact

of Giving Partners say that working with Bombas has allowed them to increase their impact in their community.

74% of Giving Partners say receiving Bombas donation products has freed up budget for other essentials

of Giving Partners say that receiving Bombas donation products has freed up budget for other needed items and initiatives.

Source2

CHAPTER ONEOUR DONATION PRODUCTS

Thoughtful socks, underwear, and t-shirts from Bombas

The most thoughtful socks, underwear, and t-⁠shirts ever created—all designed specifically for those who need them.

These are more than pieces of clothing. To some, they represent a helping hand, a sign of support, or the chance to start a meaningful conversation. We create and distribute essential items of clothing, but the impact goes far beyond just the products.

  • Bombas men's t-shirt donations, helping those in need since 2013.
  • VERSATILITY

    Our donation products come in black to show less visible wear and offer style versatility.

  • Bombas sock donations, 1 pair = 1 donation.
  • ANTIMICROBIAL TREATMENT

    An antimicrobial treatment extends wearability between washes when regular access to laundry isn't possible.

  • Bombas donates women's underwear to shelters, nonprofits, and organizations.
  • FLEXIBLE FIT

    Donation products are offered in a range of styles and sizes to offer a comfortable fit.

EXPANDING THE SCOPE OF OUR DONATIONS

In addition to donating our specially-designed clothing items, we also donate unique collections that meet specific functional needs.
Bombas donates specially-designed clothing items for specific functional needs.
  • Bombas donates dress socks to career development programs.

    We donate the same dress socks our customers know and love to career development programs in order to help job seekers feel comfortable and confident on their professional path.

  • Bombas donates Hex Tec Performance socks for organizations involved in the sport of running

    We donate our Hex Tec Performance running socks to organizations that help people find community around the sport of running.

  • Bombas helps kids go back-to-school with colorful collaboration socks

    We donate the best of our colorful collaborations to help kids and families prepare for back-to-school with products that help express their personality.

  • Bombas worked with Global Empowerment Mission on humanitarian relief efforts in Ukraine

    Most recently, we worked with our partners at Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) to donate over 219,390 units of socks and underwear, in a range of sizes and styles, to help support humanitarian relief efforts in Ukraine.

HOW IT WORKS

Your purchase with Bombas kickstarts an Infrastructure of Giving that gets products in the hands of Giving Partners.

YOU BUY: ONE BOMBAS PURCHASED = ONE BOMBAS DONATED

We Commit: Our Total Items Donated tally is updated with every purchase.

WE GET 12 MONTHS: WHEN YOU PURCHASE AN ITEM, THE CORRESPONDING DONATION PRODUCT IS DISTRIBUTED WITHIN A 12-MONTH WINDOW

We Plan: We take the following steps to ensure the right donation items reach the right Giving Partner at the right time.

WE BUY MATERIALS:

First, we commit to producing the donation products. That means purchasing yarn and fabric from our suppliers and booking factory time with our sock, tee, and underwear producers.

WE DO MATH:

This means taking the time to understand the real-time needs of Giving Partners, like the sizes, styles, and quantities that they need.

WE ASK WHEN:

This helps our Giving Partners receive products when they have the proper storage space and ability to distribute them, as well as allocate the budget they would have used on socks, tees, and underwear to other needs in their communities.

WE SHIP: CUSTOM DONATION PACKAGES GO TO GIVING PARTNERS IN ALL 50 U.S. STATES

We Do it All Again: When our Giving Partners receive their packages, those items are considered distributed, and the whole cycle continues in perpetual motion. An Engine of Good, powered by your support. And we can't thank you enough.

Though ongoing supply chain issues and the current macroeconomic environment continue to present challenges, we're committed to navigating them to the very best of our ability to ensure consistent service and support for our Giving Partners and the individuals they serve.

As of 1/1/2023, we’re at 106,779,597 donated, 74,414,643 distributed. These totals will be updated quarterly. Milestone numbers featured in marketing materials may lag behind the current number as they were produced at a moment in time.

Read more

HOW WE DONATE

  • 01

    THEY APPLY

  • 02

    WE VET

  • 03

    WE PLAN

  • 04

    WE ALLOCATE

  • 05

    WE COORDINATE

  • 06

    WE FOLLOW UP

  • 07

    WE GIVE CONSISTENTLY

DONATING FOR DISASTER RELIEF & HUMANITARIAN CRISES

Humanitarian crises are one of the many root causes of homelessness. Each year, we allocate a portion of donation inventory to crisis relief, and rely on Partners who have an on-the-ground presence and a viable infrastructure to help us with distribution logistics.

01 THEY APPLY

An organization that wants to distribute Bombas donation products completes a Prospective Giving Partner Application on the Bombas website.

02 WE VET

Our Giving Team carefully vets prospective Partners based on the core purpose of their organization and alignment with our mission.

03 WE PLAN

When a Bombas item is sold, we donate the corresponding item within 12 months of the sold date. This 12-month donation window allows us to properly plan and coordinate orders with the facilities that make our socks, underwear, and t-shirts.

04 WE ALLOCATE

Our Giving Team does some serious donation math to make sure we’re honoring each organization’s requests to the best of our ability, while keeping the process seamless for our Giving Partners.

05 WE COORDINATE

We send donation socks, underwear, and t-shirt shipments all over the country. Bombas manages the logistics and covers all costs associated with shipping.

06 WE FOLLOW UP

We ask our Giving Partners questions, learn more about their work, and utilize their expertise and connectivity to make sure we’re meeting their needs and maximizing impact.

07 WE GIVE CONSISTENTLY

Knowing that our donation products often mean more to our Giving Partners than the material goods themselves, we are committed to offering consistency of service so that they can rely on regular support.

DONATING FOR DISASTER RELIEF & HUMANITARIAN CRISES

Humanitarian crises are one of the many root causes of homelessness. Each year, we allocate a portion of donation inventory to crisis relief, and rely on Partners who have an on-the-ground presence and a viable infrastructure to help us with distribution logistics.

CHAPTER TWOHELPING THE HELPERS

Bombas makes the socks, Bombas customers spark the donation, and Giving Partners distribute the clothing items

We may make the products, but it is our customers who spark a donation with every purchase—and our incredible Giving Partners who distribute to those who need them.

Our nationwide network of Giving Partners is made up of all kinds of dedicated organizations. Some are small operations run by one single caring individual, while others are large national partners that distribute millions of Bombas donation products annually. It's a community of amazing, caring people that never ceases to inspire us. We are here to help these helpers. We want to make sure our products reach a wide range of unhoused and under-resourced communities.

Network of Giving

3,500 giving partners and counting

GIVING PARTNERS (AND COUNTING)

WE PARTNERED WITH GIVING PARTNERS WHO SERVE FAMILIES

SERVE VETERANS

SERVE YOUTH (AGES 5-18)

ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY

OFFER SPECIALIZED SUPPORT TO LGBTQIA+ INDIVIDUALS

PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES

COORDINATE FOSTER CARE

Bombas works with Giving Partners in the UK

SOCKS ACROSS THE POND

Though we started with just one, over the years our network has grown to include 3,500+ Giving Partners across all 50 states and now the UK.

NUMBER OF GIVING PARTNERS BY STATE

11

AK

35

AL

14

AR

61

AZ

318

CA

52

CO

46

CT

12

DC

9

DE

132

FL

80

GA

2

HI

21

IA

9

ID

99

IL

48

IN

24

KS

34

KY

16

LA

83

MA

55

MD

9

ME

78

MI

37

MN

59

MO

15

MS

10

MT

71

NC

9

ND

7

NE

10

NH

83

NJ

15

NM

27

NV

196

NY

81

OH

29

OK

67

OR

105

PA

1

PR

12

RI

32

SC

10

SD

51

TN

119

TX

14

UT

59

VA

3

VT

90

WA

37

WI

12

WV

5

WY

Bombas works with Giving Partners in all 50 states.

WHAT IS A GIVING PARTNER?

Our Giving Partners are organizations of all sizes that meet the needs of individuals at risk of or currently experiencing homelessness. They offer community-specific services like overnight shelter, connection to medical care, food pantries, street outreach, career counseling, and so much more.

Read more

WHO ARE THESE GIVING PARTNERS?

Our Giving Partners don’t all look the same. They represent Title 1 schools, drop-in centers, street outreach initiatives, low-income & transitional housing, foster and youth services, shelters, specialized medical facilities, and more.

Read more

WHERE ARE YOUR GIVING PARTNERS LOCATED?

We have more than 3,500* Giving Partners across the U.S. in all 50 states. Just this year, we have expanded our network overseas to the UK with our first international Giving Partners. (*Not all 3,500 Giving Partners are represented on the above map.)

Read more

Meet a few of our Giving Partners and learn about our Engine of Good

Our mission

GIVING WITH PURPOSE

At Bombas, we go above and beyond for our Giving Partners, maintaining close relationships and providing personalized support to meet their stated needs. Here are just a few of these special organizations serving their specific communities in different and unique ways.
  • Rockville, MD

    MEET COMFORT CASES: COMFORT FOR CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE

  • Portland, OR

    MEET PORTLAND REFUGEE SUPPORT GROUP: MAKING NEW NEIGHBORS FEEL AT HOME

  • New York, NY

    MEET CITY RELIEF: ON-THE-SPOT SUPPORT IN OUR HOMETOWN

  • Las Vegas, NV

    MEET STREETDOGZ: HELPING INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR PETS

  • Bellingham, WA

    MEET UNITY CARE NORTHWEST: HOLISTIC HEALTHCARE FOR ALL

  • Los Angeles, CA

    MEET T’ENA HEALTH: FULL-SERVICE COMMUNITY CARE

  • Juneau, AK

    MEET FRONT STREET CLINIC: MOBILE SUPPORT FOR REMOTE AREAS

  • Addison, TX

    MEET PARTNERSHIP WITH NATIVE AMERICANS: SUPPORTING INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES

WORDS FROM OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE

“”

My feet are my vehicles! If my feet aren't healthy, I can't get to where I need to be and my day gets a lot harder. Clean, dry socks are a luxury. It might seem really small, but without easy access to laundry they're a necessity. New socks are as good as gold.

A friend named Lisa

I started going to City Relief to get socks. I heard they had Bombas and that people really liked them. The staff started to recognize me and they remembered my name. It became about more than going to get socks—I was seeing new friends, having a conversation, enjoying a meal. I got help with some things I didn't know I could ask for help with. Offering someone something they really need is an important step toward more than you could imagine.

A friend named Charles

One thing to remember about homelessness is that everyone has a different reason for being in that situation. A lot of things have to go wrong to be left without a home and a lot can happen out of one's own control. It's easy to judge someone based on what you think you know, but until you get to really know someone, you have no idea what they've gone through or are going through. That's true for everyone. I'll keep doing what I need to do to get through this and hope that those who walk by me might see me with compassion. Life can be really hard. We're all doing the best we can with what we've got, right?

A friend named Will

When you've been homeless for some time, it's really easy to feel like a failure, like nothing can go right. It becomes really hard to hold yourself accountable especially when systems are stacked against you. The thing that saved me was having someone who cared. Someone who would keep asking me how I'm doing, if I needed anything, and encouraged me to take some hard steps forward. It's easy to disappoint yourself, but I didn't want to disappoint this person who was willing to be a friend. Letting someone know you care what happens to them... well, it means a lot.

A friend named Sandy

1 / 4

CHAPTER THREEBOMBAS FROM THE BEGINNING

Bombas customers have helped donate millions of clothing items to those who need them

How one surprising fact sparked a decade of donations.

THE ROAD TO
Bombas launched in 2013, taking our first steps on the road toward 100,000,000 new clothing items donated and counting. Here’s how all of us—employees, customers, Giving Partners, and countless others—will drive even more impact on the road ahead.

11 YEARS
AND
COUNTING

Bombas story timeline

2011

THE SPARK

Socks are the No. 1 most requested clothing item at homeless shelters. Co-Founders Dave and Randy search for a sock solution for shelters across the country.

The most comfortable socks ever
WHY SOCKS?

Used socks often cannot be accepted as donations. For individuals who spend a lot of time on their feet without the ability to change or launder their socks, new and clean socks are important for foot health and offer the dignity and comfort that everyone deserves.

2012

THE DESIGN PHASE

In order to donate a lot of socks, we’d have to sell a lot of socks. We quickly realize socks haven’t changed in over 50 years, so we spend two years on research and development to engineer the perfect sock.

Bombas set out to engineer the perfect sock
WHERE DID THE NAME “BOMBAS” COME FROM?

Bombas comes from the Latin word for bumblebee. Bees work together to make their hive a better place. We like that. On the inside of every pair of socks, we stitch these words: Bee Better.

2013

BOMBAS BEGINS

Our goal: Get 1,000,000 pairs of new socks to those who need them with the help of our local Giving Partners. We aim to accomplish this goal within ten years.

One Purchased = One Donated for all Bombas products
WHAT’S A GIVING PARTNER?

A Bombas Giving Partner is an organization that meets the needs of individuals who are currently or at risk of experiencing homelessness. We send them donation socks, tees, and underwear, and they distribute them to their clients.

2014

BOMBAS ON SHARK TANK

With our first product line launching, Bombas gets a big boost from investor Daymond John on Shark Tank.

Bombas featured on Shark Tank.
2015

THE INFRA­STRUCTURE OF GIVING

The first shipment of our specially-designed donation sock goes to an Ohio-based organization called Hannah’s Socks and with that, our Giving Partner network begins to grow.

Bombas and Giving Partners offering new clean clothing to those who need them
WHAT IS THE DONATION SOCK?

We created a donation sock meant to better suit the needs of someone who might not have access to laundry or be able to put on a clean pair every day.

Learn more about our donation products

2016

ONE MILLION PAIRS DONATED

We hit our goal of 1M well ahead of our original ten-year timeline, then decide to aim even higher. Our Bombas Giving Team works to evolve our Giving Partner network to get more products into the hands (and onto the feet) of those who need them across the country.

Millions of donations thanks to Bombas customers
WHAT’S A GIVING TEAM?

The internal Bombas Giving Team works closely with each of our Giving Partners to get them the donation products that best suit the needs of their community.

2017

BUILDING OUR INTERNAL HIVE

Bombas earns a B Corporation certification and is named one of the top companies to work for in New York. By the end of the year, our customers have helped us donate more than five million items nationwide.

The Bombas Hive hard at work creating the most comfortable socks, underwear, and t-shirts ever
2018

MAKING NEW FRIENDS

We launch our first collaborations—including our Sesame Street and Muhammad Ali collections. By the end of the year, our customers have helped us eclipse ten million donations.

Bombas partners with brands with purpose
HOW DOES BOMBAS CHOOSE BRAND PARTNERS?

We make products with purpose, and only partner with brands that are as committed to giving back as we are. Learn more about our collaborations—like our Sesame Street socks—here.

2019

THE MISSION EVOLVES

Through working closely with our Giving Partners we learn that underwear and t-shirts are the second- and third-most requested clothing items in homeless shelters—so we start making those, too.

Everyday Goods that do good
HOW DOES THE DONATION AND DISTRIBUTION PROCESS WORK?

Simply put, our customers generate donations through each purchase, we send those donations to organizations around the country, and those organizations (our Giving Partners) distribute the clothing items to people who need them. Learn more about the specifics of the process here.

2020

SUPPORTING OUR NEIGHBORS

As we reach 40 million product donations, our Giving Team works to support our unhoused neighbors throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Supporting our neighbors

We sourced and sent personal protective equipment (PPE) to our Giving Partners and went above and beyond for our closest neighbors and friends to ensure they knew they had the support they needed.

2021

IMPACTING OUR FUTURE

Our customers have helped donate over 60 million items, while we continue to evolve our mission and expand our Giving Partner network across America and abroad.

Running toward the future in Bombas
WHERE IS BOMBAS HEADING NEXT?

With Giving Partners in all 50 U.S. states, we are beyond excited to bring everyday good(s), and our mission, to customers and Giving Partners who are making an impact in their own communities across the country.

2022 & BEYOND

MAKING EVERYDAY GOOD(S)

We started Bombas to serve our community and we continue to push that work every day. Our B Corp status was recertified in 2022, with our score increasing significantly in just five short years. As our Giving Partner network grows, we are committed to furthering our advocacy, donations, and storytelling on behalf of our Giving Partners and those experiencing homelessness.

Bombas Everyday Goods

See our collections at bombas.com

2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022 & BEYOND

CHAPTER FOURGIVING AS A TEAM

The Bombas Hive, our family of 200-ish dedicated employees

How the Bombas Hive—our family of 200-ish dedicated employees (and more than a few office dogs!)—gives back in ways that go beyond product donations.

At the Bombas office in New York City, we always keep a basket of donation socks by our front door so that team members can grab a pair when they head out for lunch or make their evening commute. Offering a pair of socks to someone who needs them creates an opportunity for connection or a conversation. Through these friendships, we’ve learned the best ways to help and how to deepen our impact right in our own neighborhood.

COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY

At Bombas, we don’t just donate socks, underwear, and t-shirts—we donate our time and effort consistently, in ways big and small. Here are a few of our favorite Giving moments as well as our regular, ongoing volunteer work.
  • FEB 28, 2017

    60K DAY

    On any given night in 2017, more than 60,000 individuals were experiencing homelessness in NYC.⁠3⁠ We decided to get volunteers from 60 different companies, pair them with 60 Giving Partners, and give them each 1,000 pairs of socks in an effort to donate 60,000 socks across all five NYC boroughs in one epic evening. We continue to help other companies connect to our community of Giving Partners to this day.

    Watch the full 60k Day video here

    Bombas 60k Day: 60,000 socks donated in one epic day
  • NOV 28, 2017

    GREATEST OF ALL THANKSGIVINGS

    On Giving Tuesday, in celebration of our partnership and product collaboration with the Muhammad Ali Foundation, we hosted a community dinner (we called it the “Greatest Of All Thanksgivings”) to celebrate Muhammad Ali's legacy of charity. We welcomed 120 guests, Giving Partners, community members, business peers, and individuals experiencing homelessness to enjoy a beautiful family-style meal in a cozy setting.

    “Greatest of All Thanksgivings” Bombas x Muhammad Ali
Bombas Hive gives away socks, underwear, and t-shirts to guests of The Bowery Mission

BOWERY MISSION WOMEN’S RESIDENCE.

Bombas employees cook and serve special meals every month at Bowery Mission Women's Residence. Since the pandemic began, we've been sending catering one night a month from a local restaurant and look forward to cooking and dining together around their communal table once again.

Bombas empowers our employees to support causes close to their heart

HIVE GIVING INITIATIVE.

Once a year, this initiative empowers Bombas employees to select an organization that is personally meaningful to them—and provides them with 1,000 pairs of Bombas donation socks. It’s a great way for us all to stay personally and consistently connected to our mission.

Bombas partners with Samuel Proctor Family Residence for the Birthday Party Project

SAMUEL PROCTOR FAMILY RESIDENCE.

With the Birthday Party Project, we co-host a monthly party at the Samuel Proctor Family Residence in Harlem to celebrate all the kids who have a birthday that month. Since the pandemic began, we've had to halt our parties and pour our creativity into video birthday wishes. We can't wait to party in person again soon!

Having nuanced, informed conversations around homelessness is essential to making an impact and sparking action. Our ongoing series “&Homelessness” brings our Giving Partners and individuals with lived experience together to address specific topics.

GIVING BACK IN BIG LITTLE WAYS

As a Hive, we strive to find little and big ways to support our neighbors, and you can too. Find a Giving Partner near you to get involved.

WE WRAP LOTS & LOTS OF GIFTS

In 2021, Bombas wrapped over 300 gifts for families and staff at the Samuel Proctor Family Residence

In 2021, we wrapped over 300 gifts, fulfilling the holiday wish lists of more than 100 staff members, parents, and children at Samuel Proctor Residence. These gifts help folks allocate more of their family budget to essentials.

WE HAND WRITE AND HAND DELIVER CARDS

Hand written cards let people know they are being thought of

Sometimes a few kind words can go a long way to reminding someone that they’re being thought of. These cards are offered alongside grocery delivery and tucked into essential items.

WE ROUTINELY HELP SHELTERS HOST A MONTHLY PIZZA NIGHT

Bombas helps shelters host monthly pizza nights

Pizza Night just has a way of bringing people together. We’ve been happy to continue supporting these fun events—even though we can’t be there in person right now to enjoy it together.

WE GET TOGETHER TO WISH OUR FRIENDS HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Bombas wishes kids happy birthday in creative ways at the Samuel Proctor Family Residence

Though we’ve not yet gotten back to in-person partying, we get to send creative video wishes to the kids at Samuel Proctor Family Residence.

WE HELPED A FRIEND SECURE A STORAGE UNIT

Having a secure place to store one’s things means the ability to move around freely, keep important items safe, and not be limited by personal belongings limits at shelter and service provider locations.

Read more

WE SHARE NETFLIX PASSWORDS (SORRY, NETFLIX)

For those living in shelters, having access to entertainment can provide a much-needed respite plus the entertainment we all know and love.

Read more

WE COVER PHONE BILLS

Active phone lines keep us connected to our friends, offer the stability of having a personal phone number, and ensure reliable internet access.

Read more

CHAPTER FIVECOMMUNITIES THAT INSPIRE US

Bombas empowers our employees to support communities that are under-resourced

We provide added support to communities that are under-resourced and at higher risk of experiencing homelessness.

  • THE BLACK HIVE

    The Bombas Black Hive—our self-titled collective of Black creators, designers, strategists, and more—began work on a special sock collection that reflects a joyful vision of Black pasts, celebrates Black presents, and empowers Black futures.

    Each pair of socks sold sparked a donation to organizations that support people of color who are in need of help—representing around 40% of the unhoused community.4

    View full statistics

    The Bombas Black Hive: Black creators, designers, strategists, and more
  • THE RAINBOW HIVE

    Pride is a celebration of everything it means to be a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community, and the Bombas Pride collection was made to directly support this community, which faces its own unique challenges. In the U.S., over 40% of young people5 experiencing homelessness identify as LGBTQIA+. With the help of our friends at The Ally Coalition, every purchase from this collection helps send donation products to organizations dedicated to serving at-risk individuals in the LGBTQIA+ community.

    The Bombas Pride Collection, made to directly support the LGBTQIA+ community
  • SUPPORTING FAMILIES AND CHILDREN

    Every year, more than two million children6 will face a period of homelessness. Additionally, around 35% of people who experience homelessness are in families with children.7

    From our partnerships and initiatives to where and how we activate our Giving Network, we continually create and support programs designed to help families and kids access opportunities for education, entertainment, and connecting to their communities.

    In 2019, we partnered with Sesame Street to celebrate their 50th Anniversary with a party for children and families of P.S./M.S. 188 in NYC. We turned a gymnasium into a giant party for kids to meet one another alongside their favorite Sesame Street characters. There was a bounce house, DJ, face painting, mural making, life-size games, cookie decorating, a photo booth, plus pizza and snacks. Grover and Abby even joined the party!

    Bombas and Giving Partners offering new clean clothing to those who need them
P.S./M.S. 188 gives students creative outlets to address social issues

P.S./M.S. 188

A Title 1 school in our New York neighborhood where we’ve been able to work with the amazing Dr. Lahana and his students in his Makerspace classroom. This curriculum allows students to pursue all kinds of creative outlets—woodworking, video editing, computer programming, pottery, screenprinting—to express their views on social issues. Though the pandemic forced us to get creative with virtual enrichment clubs such as photography, creative writing, the science of TikTok, and more, we look forward to returning to the classroom to help students with their creative projects on a regular basis.

CHAPTER SIXHOW TO BEE AN ADVOCATE

How to Bee an advocate for the unhoused community

Here’s how to get involved, give back, and navigate the complex conversation around homelessness in America.

Homelessness is one of the most complex and sensitive subjects in our society, combining issues of poverty, class, race, gender, sexuality, healthcare, mental wellness, housing, and more. Better understanding homelessness is a hugely important step toward changing the conversation and promoting positive change and compassionate decision making. We can’t eliminate homelessness overnight, but we can evolve the way we think about our unhoused neighbors and friends while building toward a better future.

COMMON QUESTIONS

  • HOW IS “HOMELESSNESS” DEFINED?

  • WHY IS THE PHRASE “THE HOMELESS?” PROBLEMATIC?

  • WHAT DOES BOMBAS ACTUALLY DO FOR THE UNHOUSED COMMUNITY?

  • HOW CAN I TALK TO MY KIDS ABOUT HOMELESSNESS?

  • WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO INTRODUCE MYSELF TO MY UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS?

  • WHAT DO I DO IF I SEE SOMEONE IN CRISIS?

  • WHAT RESOURCES ARE THERE FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS?

  • WHAT OTHER ITEMS CAN I DONATE TO MY LOCAL SHELTER/YOUR GIVING PARTNERS/MY UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS?

  • WHY DON’T YOU DONATE THE SAME SOCKS/UNDERWEAR/T-SHIRTS YOU SELL ON YOUR SITE?

Bombas partners with 3,500 Giving Partners across all 50 states

GIVING BACK

Find supportive services and ways to give back.

Visit the directory

FURTHER READING & RESOURCES ON HOMELESSNESS

  • Same Kind of Different as Me

    A book and movie that show the power of acknowledgement and relationship building, and the impact that just one person can have on the life of another.

  • You’re Wrong About: Homelessness

    A podcast that references lesser-known systemic structures that perpetuate the cycle of homelessness, and helps us better understand a number of root causes.

  • Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City

    A gripping, real-life account of the impact of rising housing costs, systemic discrimination, and broken support systems that lead to housing injustice and perpetual cycles of homelessness.

  • Neighbors with No Doors

    A book and podcast created by Josiah Haken, CEO of City Relief (a longtime Bombas Giving Partner), to help break down common misconceptions around homelessness, share humanizing stories of individuals with lived experience, and guide us to become better helpers.

  • Spent

    An interactive digital experience that simulates real-life decision making when faced with limited resources—helping users gain a better understanding of just how easy it is to lose one’s home.

Bombas customers have helped donate over 75 million clothing items in 10 years
Bombas began with a goal to donate one million pairs of socks over ten years. At the time, we had no customers and no Giving Partners—just a tiny Hive and big aspirations.

Now, you have helped donate over 100,000,000 items of essential clothing to those who need them.

As we embark on our tenth year in business, you have helped support more than 3,500 Giving Partners, fueled more than 100,000,000 donations, pushed us to launch underwear and t-shirts (the second- and third-most requested clothing items at homeless shelters), and sparked millions of acts of humankindness around the country.

From all of us at Bombas, we thank you for reading, engaging with, and learning from our first-ever Impact Report. Most of all, thank you for being a part of our Engine of Good.

DISCOVER MORE AT BOMBAS.COM

Bombas works with 3,500+ Giving Partners in the U.S. and UK. Bombas customers and Giving Partners have sparked millions of acts of humankindness

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