Best of the Week 2018-2019: Holy Cross Values

SAM DUDLEY '19 LEADS SOCK DRIVE AT ST. ED'S FOR THE HOMELESS IN CLEVELAND

Sam Dudley '19 has teamed up with six other high schools within the Cleveland area to bring awareness to the "Set Your Socks on Helping Others for the Homeless" Campaign. In a friendly competition between Gilmour Academy, Hawken School, Saint Ignatius, Berea-Midpark High School, Padua Franciscan High School and Holy Name High School, Sam has led a sock drive at St. Ed's for the past week to collect the most new pairs of socks to give to the poor and homeless in the city of Cleveland. The goal for this sock drive is to have a greater impact on the Cleveland community and assist in helping those less fortunate to keep warm during the colder season.

Sam worked with students from the other competing schools to pitch the sock drive idea to the St. Ed's staff and to figure out the logistics and marketing strategies to ensure the success of this service project. With the help of the St. Ed's faculty, staff and fellow students, Sam was able to get the sock drive up and running and has received many donations throughout the week. "As servant leaders, we are called to be Christlike in our genuine service to others," says Dean of Student Life & Leadership Mr. Dan Mackin '04. "Sam worked with student representatives from many of our local, peer schools and arranged this sock drive to benefit those in need. Not only did Sam keep the focus of those in need at the forefront, but he worked well with his colleagues on this program in order to make it an important initiative at each of the schools."

In addition to the competition between the participating high schools, Sam raised the bar by creating an additional competition between classes at St. Ed's. Each class was given a designated bin so that by the end of the sock drive, students would know which class collected the most pairs of socks. Sam also created a respective bin for the faculty and staff members so that they could get in on the competition as well. Additional incentives to donate included a homemade cookie, baked by the St. Ed's Mothers' Club, for every two pairs of socks donated and a Dress Down Day pass for every six pairs of socks donated. "The students at St. Edward always respond well to healthy competitions, and the sock drive is not an exception," says Mr. Mackin. "In addition to resulting in strong levels of participation and understanding of our call to serve those in need, competitions amongst our peer schools keeps us better connected and working together. Ultimately, this collaborative project will result in a great benefit for those in need across Greater Cleveland."