Staying connected to causes that matter is always a priority at Lent Rise House. This Odd Sock Day, residents came together to understand the connections between bullying and homelessness. Collecting unwanted socks and clothing items to donate to The Salvation Army demonstrated that the need to give back and offer support to the community never fades.

As part of the anti-bullying initiative residents were visited by Corps Officer Alan, who shared stories about The Salvation Army’s founding and its incredible work supporting vulnerable individuals. He noted how issues like bullying, abuse, and relationship breakdowns often contribute to homelessness. He also shared anecdotes about the organisation’s brass bands, which have been instrumental in raising funds and awareness since The Salvation Army’s early days. Many residents fondly reminisced about hearing these bands or seeing their parades, reconnecting with meaningful memories of their own.Josephine, a resident, shared her personal connection:

My father volunteered at The Salvation Army every Sunday afternoon.

Handing over their collected donations, the residents of Lent Rise House were proud to know their contributions would make a real difference.

Louise Foyle-York the home manager at Lent Rise House, reflected on the initiative:

Homelessness is a big concern of mine. Here at the Fremantle Trust, we know just how important home is. Homelessness should not be an issue in this day and age, yet unfortunately, often those living on the streets will experience poor treatment and this bullying is never acceptable. Here at Lent Rise House, we have worked hard to gather donations for Odd Sock Week to raise awareness of the correlations between bullying and homelessness so thank you to all our residents, family and staff for their contributions.

Through their efforts, our residents have shown that compassion and community action can make a difference, one step and one sock at a time.