The class of 2026 gathered an estimated 2,100 pairs of socks in the third annual ‘Socktober’ drive for Bellefaire Jewish Children’s Bureau. 

Donation bins were placed throughout the school, and 17 teachers offered extra credit this year to students who donated socks.

“There are teachers from every department giving extra credit,” class of 2026 President Asher Gearity said. 

Each participating teacher developed their own extra credit policy, such as one point per pair of socks or one point per pack, depending on the teacher. Some teachers valued the socks for more points and most capped the extra credit. 

The drive counted 12 pairs as ‘a pack’ of socks. 

Students could choose to donate for multiple classes for extra credit  or even in all of their classes where teachers offered  extra credit points.

The socks were donated to the Bellefaire Jewish Children’s Bureau, an organization dedicated to helping underprivileged children. 

Socks are one of the items most often requested by people in shelters.

Approximately 150 students participated in last year’s drive, gathering 1,768 pairs for an estimated 3,536 points of extra credit. 

Both students and teachers are happy to participate in the drive because of the positive outcome. The socks go to a good cause, and students get rewarded for their donations. 

Gearity appreciates support from the rest of Student Council for helping him run the drive by setting up boxes around the school for donations, counting the thousands of socks at the end of the drive and keeping track of extra credit points for each teacher. 

Gearity emphasized that the most important part of the drive is not the extra credit, but the donations  to help people in need of socks.

“It is a great fundraiser for people in need,” he said

Although the sponsoring class is graduating this year, Gearity is hopeful the Socktober drive will continue in years to come.