Mother McAuley students and Mercy Circle residents collected 554 pairs of socks for 70 families served by Pat’s Pantry in Mount Greenwood, combining a little fun with a community effort to help those in need.
“This program is an exceptional example of caring about our neighbors in need today,” said 19th Ward Ald. Matt O’Shea. “Macs with Mercy is a great illustration of what can be achieved when generations come together. We are grateful to Mercy Circle residents and Mother McAuley students for their commitment to helping others while enjoying a fun get-together.”
The socks were collected through Socktober, a drive that brought together students from Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School and residents of Mercy Circle to support local families. Donations ranged from infant booties to athletic socks for teens and adults, along with colorful and holiday-themed styles.
The group sorted and counted the donations during a sock hop-themed gathering, complete with soda fountain drinks, 1950s music and decorations. While the socks were the focus, the event also gave students and residents a chance to spend time together, with residents sharing memories of their own school days.
O’Shea started Macs with Mercy in 2022. The program brings students and senior residents together throughout the school year to make gifts that are included in grocery bags distributed to families and individuals through Pat’s Pantry.
Mercy Circle is a nonprofit senior living community sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. Its 13-acre campus is located at 3659 W. 99th St. in Chicago. The community describes itself as the only faith-based senior living community in the southwest sector of the Chicago metropolitan area.