GCC youth collect 228 pairs of socks for Belknap House

GILFORD — The Gilford Community Church Sunday school class recently learned about the importance of outreach and helping people in need within their community. To put their lesson into action, the youth partnered with church members to participate in “Socktober,” a community outreach initiative that collects new socks for individuals and families in need.

The idea for Socktober began in October 2011 when creator Brad Montague recognized the needs of the homeless population in his hometown. While researching ways to help, he discovered that socks were among the least-donated items to homeless shelters. From this simple observation came a meaningful idea: Socks + October = Socktober.

Inspired by this initiative, the Gilford Community Church youth and congregation worked together to collect new pairs of socks to support Belknap House, a local organization that serves several families.

Thanks to the generosity of the church community, the Gilford Community Church collected an impressive 228 pairs of socks for Belknap House.

“This was a wonderful opportunity for our youth to learn that outreach is about more than talking about helping others; it is about putting our faith into action, we wanted our children to understand that even a simple gift, like a new pair of socks, can make a difference in someone’s life. I am so grateful to our church members for coming together to support this effort and help those in need in our community,” said Amber McLane, youth director at Gilford Community Church.

Through activities like Socktober, Gilford Community Church hopes to encourage children to develop compassion, generosity, and a lifelong commitment to serving others. The project served as a reminder that small acts of kindness, when shared by a community, can make a meaningful difference.

To learn more, visit gilfordcommunitychurch.org.