Heartwarming Success for Socktober Drive
Rotary Club of Union
The Interact Club at Union High School, under the direction of Dr. Ed Boffa, is a club of students dedicated to active service for the good of the school and community. The Socktober drive began in 2019 when the UHS Interact Club decided to hold a sock drive for a homeless shelter in Orange. That year, students collected 633 pairs of socks. In 2021, after Covid, they collected 1,099 pairs of socks.
In 2022, the Union Rotary Club heard about the Socktober drive. Since Interact is a branch of the Rotary Youth Programs, the Union Rotary Club joined their drive. The YMCA also joined in, and the total rose to 1,665 pairs which were donated to the YMCA shelter in Elizabeth.
This year, the bar was raised even higher. Members of the community realized that socks are one of the most requested items for people who turn to shelters for assistance. A call went out to try to reach the goal of 2,023 pairs for 2023. That call was quickly answered. Members of the YMCA donated 305 pairs and employees at Hillmann Consulting brought in 274 more. The Interact students realized a total of 1,724 pairs. Elementary school students at Livingston School, as well as the UTEA, joined in the drive. Rotary members, family and friends joined in to heed the call and help others while a member of the Rotary, Dennis Laronga, donated an entire pallet of socks which was 2,052!
The grand total for the 2023 Socktober drive was 4,885 pairs of socks donated! The results of this drive will help hundreds of people!
Jodi Pelano of the Wellness Center, Gateway Family YMCA, said, “People are overwhelmed with the generosity of all the donations, especially in light of the cold weather approaching.” When the thousands of pairs of socks were dropped off at the YMCA Housing, Laura Margeotes, Director, said this holiday season more than 300 individuals, families, veterans, and others will be serviced. The socks should last through the next 5 months and help hundreds of people feel warm and dry through the winter months.
The Rotary Club of Union
Rotary provides service to others, contributes to community, and world goodwill and charities, through fellowship of business, professional and community leaders. Our motto is “Do good in the world. Service above self. ” We are residents or business owners in Union who are dedicated to helping our community as we continue to grow and thrive. Our lunch meetings host speakers who make us aware of needs in the town, state and world.
The Rotary Club of Union meets two Thursdays a month at noon. Please check the speaker schedule and calendar for location, day, and times. For more information visit: portal.clubrunner.ca/6622
