By Donya Hassanshahi
This holiday season, from November 29 through December 10, Redwood’s CSF is hosting their sock drive. Whether long socks or fuzzy socks, any sock donation is welcomed as long as they’re new.
CSF, California Scholarship Federation, is a club on Redwood campus that includes students who maintain their grades, who then can submit their application forms every semester. In relation to this, CSF has a variety of community service opportunities, like their previous chemo-care kit drive and now their holiday sock drive.
Unlike other holiday seasons where CSF would typically do a canned-food drive, this year the club is trying something new. Vice president Bailey Nelson, ’22 inputs, “We [CSF staff] figured it was a good way to give back to families in need around Christmas time.”
Photo courtesy of Nelson
Nelson explains how the sock drive came to be, “The sock idea came to be because we didn’t want to do a traditional can drive, and we wanted to give back in ways that would benefit the community for years on.”
For the drive itself, she is extremely hopeful for the overall outcome of donations. The most rewarding part Nelson is looking forward to is the delivery to the workers’ and seeing their faces when she is able to drop off a plentiful amount of socks.
As the vice president of CSF, she has high hopes for the sock drive, though Nelson encourages her fellow Redwood Rangers to step up to the cause and help donate. “Please, if you guys are able to donate socks to Mrs. Cheatwood’s room, every pair counts,” she adds.
Sophomore Ellie Gilbert has been involved with CSF since her freshman year.
Considering the past year with COVID-19, Gilbert emphasizes the impact that this sock drive may have on families, “It has put larger financial difficulties on some families, and I think the drive will help give the children something, even if it’s just a small gesture.”
Photo courtesy of Gilbert
Lucas Washam, ’22 has been a member of CSF since his freshman year, though he is working his way towards becoming a life-time participant; a lifetime member is a student who has been a part of the club for the entirety of their Redwood career.
With his involvement in CSF, Washam expresses his gratitude, “I feel the goal of gaining a lifetime membership has helped to keep me from slacking or getting behind too much on my work.”
Photo courtesy of Washam
Similar to Gilbert, Washam highlighted how the Coronavirus pandemic has changed perspectives about traditions at Redwood High School regarding Ranger spirit.
“I’m excited for this drive because I hope to see that the freshmen and sophomores coming in from after COVID continue the Redwood tradition of participation,” he correlates.
Compared to previous drives that have been hosted by the club, Washam adds, “I think this sock drive is a great opportunity to support the community with an item like socks that we all tend to take for granted.”
To contribute in this year’s CSF hosted sock drive, you can deliver your donations to the CSF advisor, Mrs. Cheatwood, in room 108.
Donya Hassanshahi
Donya Hassanshahi, '24 is a third year journalism student writing for the Redwood Gigantea. She seeks interest in the Humans of Redwood, hoping to inspire the Redwood community with her writing. You can reach her by her email at donya.hassanshahi@gmail.com.
Tags: clubs & lifestyles, CSF, csf vice president, Donya Hassanshahi, Redwood, redwood gigantea, redwood journalism, redwood rangers, sock drive