Providing Warmth to the Homeless with New Socks 

Last fall, The DYOJO held a local sock competition, SOCKTember, to raise sock donations for the homeless. Merit Construction participated in the competition taking 2nd place, under the team name “Tacoma Sockhawks,” collecting a total of 1,450 socks. This year we are back and are ready to beat last year’s numbers. The competition is a fun way to get connected, boost morale, and make a difference in the lives of those in our communities.   

“I am really excited to do this again!  Last year it was such a great thing to be part of in a challenging time.  It allowed us to focus on something other than Covid and provided many people a vehicle to help others.  I was so impressed with the generosity of our staff, our business partners and our subcontractors that stepped up to help us bless others!” – Tammy Birklid, Principal of Merit. 

As Fall approaches, new socks become one of the most valuable pieces of clothing to people without permanent housing and are one of the highest requested items of need for local charities. Living on the streets can be hazardous to the feet due to lack of healthcare and proper footwear. Many homeless individuals suffer from skin infections, nail diseases, frostbite and trench foot. All of this can be mitigated with proper foot care, including access to clean socks. 

Merit will be giving the donations they receive to St. Francis House - Puyallup Valley and the Tacoma Rescue Mission. 

Ways You Can Get Involved 

• Share information about #SOCKTember on your social media outlets to raise awareness about the sock drive.  

• Have your company join our team! If your organization would like to join our team, email us at info@meritnw.com to let us know. Your company can collect socks from September 1st - September 30th and either drop off the donations at our office or we'd be happy to pick them up!  

• If you would like to donate socks you can drop them off at our office during normal business hours (7am-3:30pm) at 3020 S. 96th St., Lakewood, WA 98499 or order online through our Amazon Wish List and have them mailed directly to our office until September 30th. If you know a Merit employee personally, you can connect with them and make a collection plan. 

About Merit Construction: 

Merit Construction is a full service commercial general contractor serving the Pacific Northwest and surrounding areas. Since 1957 we have been providing clients with reliable Team-Build solutions to our most complex construction challenges. Our mission is to build the future of our communities by building strong relationships, creating unparalleled experiences, and delivering an exceptional product. We do this by serving our clients with integrity and purpose, and by employing solution-driven, dependable, and dedicated team members. For over 60 years we have built a solid reputation for market excellence, drawing on our history of quality, integrity, and solution-driven leadership. We offer a wide range of services that can be applied to new construction, remodels and renovations, tenant improvements, historic renovation projects, and building maintenance.