LAHS DECA Vice President of Fundraising Anna Villalpando holds one of the Sock Drive collection boxes. DECA has set a goal to collect 100 pairs of socks to donate to Pete’s Place homeless shelter in Santa Fe. Photo Courtesy LAPS
LAPS NEWS RELEASE
Los Alamos High School (LAHS) DECA Chapter is collecting socks for Pete’s Place homeless shelter in Santa Fe during the month of November.
Collection boxes are located in the A Wing and D Wing at the high school, and in the Topper Freshman Academy office. There is also a drop-off location at the Los Alamos Middle School Front Office.
Each academic year the LAHS DECA Chapter selects a community service project to support. For the third year, LAHS DECA has chosen to host a sock drive to solicit donations of new socks for Pete’s Place homeless shelter in Santa Fe.
DECA is an international business organization, with both high school and collegiate chapters, focused on business education. DECA students spend the academic year concentrating on areas such as marketing, finance, business administration, and Hospitality and Tourism. Students participate in competitions in these topics at regional, state, and international levels. DECA students are also expected to participate in an annual service project benefiting the local or regional area.
“Part of the DECA experience is serving our local and regional community,” DECA Advisor Dr. Sharon Hurley said. “Our DECA officers were presented with multiple options for service opportunities and voted, again this year, to collect socks for the homeless shelter in Santa Fe.
LAHS DECA will collect socks throughout the month of November and then take them to the shelter in mid-December. The goal is to collect 100 pairs of socks to donate to the shelter this year.
“We spend so much time preparing for our competitions, that it is easy to lose sight of the struggles of individuals all around us,” Dr. Hurley said. “The service projects remind us to step away from our own focus and serve others in our community. This year we are pleased to partner with Los Alamos Middle School as an additional collection site for the donations. We are grateful for the High School, Middle School, and District Administrators for their support in our organization’s efforts to help the homeless.”
Community members are invited to participate in the DECA service project by dropping off socks at the high school or middle school collection sites. Additional winter items such as gloves, scarves, hats and blankets will also be accepted, but the primary focus is on collecting socks.