BURLINGTON TOWNSHIP (KYW Newsradio) — With cold weather fast approaching, two Burlington County teens came up with a way to help the homeless stay warm.
"I was thinking of an idea of something student government can do for the community," said Burlington Township High School senior Meadow Monticello. She and classmate Lorraina Gibson got other students involved, delivering a promise in a big way.
"I figured since it was going to be the colder months, we can collect sock and winter gear for a local service project."
She discovered that the county's Housing Hub was low on its sock supply.
"They said that they would be glad to accept the donations of socks, gloves, and mittens, so I decided to go along with that," Monticello said.
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With the help of her class, student government, and the International Thespian Society, SOCvember was born.
"We decorated two boxes. We painted them [with] socks and fall designs, and then we got them in the two main offices, and I made an announcement on loudspeaker and posted on social media about it," Monticello said.
"The donations poured right in.”
100 socks poured in from students and their families, along with hats, gloves and scarves for the homeless.
"I actually felt happy when we turned in the donations, because we got to see the impact they have."
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Monticello and her classmate delivered those donations to the housing hub a few weeks ago.
"To help and serve the community, it's so applaudable," said Housing Hub Director Malikah Morris, adding these donations come just in time and will help with the county's Code Blue weather emergency program when the temperatures become frigid.
"Code Blue is when the weather is below 32 degrees which means that it’s extremely cold and it’s our job to help others," Morris added. Last winter, Code Blues were declared 86 times, and close to 4,500 were sheltered by the Housing Hub.
She said students understand that need.
"They deserve all the recognition."
Monticello says this experience will stay with her.
"It made me more grateful for my pairs of socks," she said. "Just having a clean, dry pair is something so rare for most people."
