The Grade 5 students took to heart what Reverend Sara from nOURish encouraged them to do at a fall assembly. She said to all of us, “You have privilege—use it.” This particular group of students has a strong history of community service beginning in second grade—after all, this is the original “Change for Change Group”—so giving is just in their nature.

Earlier this fall, Grade 5 and Grade 8 held a cereal drive for our friends at nOURish. Knowing that the holiday season can be stressful for people who are financially struggling, we decided to also hold a sock drive. Our initial goal was 20 pairs of socks total, and we ended up with 120 pairs! It just made sense to add some coziness to the gift, so we included a couple of envelopes of hot chocolate to brighten their moods and add a festive touch. The students made tags , packaged the socks and wrote a positive message on each tag. Their hope is that a warm pair of socks and a cup of hot chocolate will warm the hearts and souls of those in need. Go Gators!