As the weather turns colder, warmth becomes a necessity. Recognizing this need, students from Schaumburg High School came together October 6-13 for the school’s first-ever sock drive hosted by the National Honor Society (NHS).
Over the course of the week, participants collected five boxes of new socks to benefit Journey’s Homeless Shelter. Socks are one of the most requested items at shelters because they prevent serious medical issues and maintain mobility, making this drive especially meaningful.
Journey’s Homeless Shelter in Palatine is a nonprofit agency committed to providing a wide range of services for individuals experiencing homelessness. The organization supports those in need through shelter, social services, and housing resources, serving 37 communities across north and northwest suburban Cook County as well as southern Lake County.
The shelter operates PADS Shelters, The HOPE Center, and Pathways Housing Readiness, offering comprehensive support and care for those in need.
“I have found Socktober to be a great new fundraiser for SHS and hope to see it turn into a tradition,” Julia Amaro, an NHS board member, said. “It is great to see the community come together and help out and I am pleased to know how many people we’ll help.”
The process of collecting donations was thoughtfully organized to make participation easy and accessible for all students. Students were encouraged to bring new socks to designated collection points around the school.
Baskets and collection boxes were set up in the main office, media center, and guidance office for donations, allowing students, teachers, and staff members to all contribute.
, two dedicated members of NHS, volunteered daily to gather the collected boxes and ensure they were properly organized before being dropped off in the designated offices.
To help spread the word, students created posters that were displayed around the school and made announcements. The drive not only provided much-needed items but also raised awareness about the needs of the local homeless community.
“The experience has been phenomenal; seeing the school community come together for a meaningful cause is always something special. The Socktober collection was very successful and has made a great impact!” Vikas Brahmbhatt remarked, another NHS board member.
“I am so proud of the Saxons! We collected several boxes full of socks to donate, and hopefully this makes a challenging situation just a little bit easier for folks in our community this year,” Mrs. Lopez said, the sponsor of NHS.
With its success this year, NHS hopes to make the sock drive an annual tradition, continuing to support Journey’s Homeless Shelter and other local initiatives. By engaging the school community in acts of services, the drive fosters empathy, awareness, and a culture of giving back.