Los Alamos Students Collect 1,238 Pairs of Socks for Shelters

Los Alamos High School’s DECA chapter wrapped up its annual sock drive on Dec. 19, 2025, having collected 1,238 pairs of socks during a campaign that ran from early November through Dec. 10. Collection boxes were placed at the LAPS Credit Union, the Elks Lodge, Los Alamos Middle School and Los Alamos High School. The socks were packed and delivered to shelters in Santa Fe and Española.

The effort, organized by students, drew contributions from families, school staff and partner community organizations that hosted drop off sites. Organizers noted strong community participation as a key factor in reaching the total of 1,238 pairs. The donations arrived as temperatures drop across northern New Mexico, supplying a basic needs item that shelters rely on during the winter months.

For local shelters the in kind contribution helps stretch operating budgets by reducing immediate demand for purchasing socks and other clothing items. That can free up limited funds to cover other necessities such as food, utilities and case management. The donations also address a practical health concern, since clean warm socks reduce the risk of cold related illness and help people maintain foot hygiene when staying in congregate settings.

The drive underscores a pattern of student civic engagement in Los Alamos County and highlights partnerships between schools and community institutions. By coordinating collection sites at the credit union, the Elks Lodge and two schools, the drive created multiple convenient points for donations and engaged a cross section of the community. The distribution to shelters in Santa Fe and Española extended the impact beyond county lines to serve regional needs.

School leaders described the drive as a learning opportunity for students to organize logistics, work with community partners and respond to local social needs. The result is both immediate assistance for people using shelter services and a reinforcement of community networks that can be mobilized in future relief efforts. With winter under way, organizers encouraged continued support for basic needs programs while noting gratitude to the partners that hosted drop off sites and the residents who contributed.