Socks & Lockers: Seemingly Small Tasks Make a Large Impact

Huge thank you to the Mostofsky family and Alina Spaulding, among other caring community members, whose generosity made this opportunity for B’nai Shalom students possible.

It would be an understatement to say that after the attack on Israel on October 7, many were left feeling helpless and wondering how to support those in need.

When B’nai Shalom got the call that a family connected to the school had a large amount of socks that needed to be sorted and sent to Israeli Defense Force (IDF) Soldiers, their students jumped at the opportunity to help. Over 20 boxes of assorted socks were delivered to the school and the students dove in. They spent hours pouring out sock after sock, organizing them, and finding sock pairs, then boxing them back up to be shipped to Israel. In the end, this seemingly small task supplied over 2,500 pairs of socks to IDF soldiers and provided students with a tangible task in a time of helplessness.

A week or so later, B’nai Shalom Day School welcomed new students to their community whose families had fled from Israel amid the crisis. Knowing that these students were coming to a new school in a new country, and that they had no existing friends in the community, Upper School Students took time to decorate their new classmates' lockers and make posters to welcome them to B’nai Shalom. “We wanted to make sure they felt welcome,” says Madelyn Renee, a 7th grade student. “We wanted them to want to be here.” The students collected school supplies to stock their lockers, and made mini paper chains and notes of welcome to hang on the outside. Another seemingly small task, communicated a world of care and comfort to the new families, letting them know that they are not only welcome, but safe, and loved at B’nai Shalom.

Somewhere out there, there is an IDF soldier whose feet are warm and blister free simply because a 6th grade student found two socks that matched and bundled them together. Here in our community, there are middle school students laughing with new friends simply because another student made the effort to befriend them. Always remember, no matter how small, your effort matters.