Members of Shaw Avenue Elementary School’s Giving Club recently collected 203 pairs of new socks to donate to the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless this winter. The school community generously placed their donations on clothespins outside the school library near a sign that read “Hang Some Kindness.”

Led by adviser Kristin Princiotta, the Giving Club is a new extracurricular activity at Shaw Avenue School that focuses on giving students opportunities to give back to their community and participate in acts of kindness and service. The club contains 20 members who meet virtually every Thursday on Google Meet and members range from fourth graders to sixth graders.

The sock drive is just one of many projects that the club members have initiated this school year. Past projects have included “The 12 Days of Giving” campaign which encouraged the student body to complete 12 acts of kindness around the holidays, a letter writing campaign to show appreciation for COVID-19 nurses at NYU and a no-sew blanket project to support cats in shelters.

“I started The Giving Club to give students opportunities to give back to their community by performing acts of service and kindness,” said Ms. Princiotta. “I am so impressed by these wonderful children who come to each meeting eager and excited to help others.”