Rockville Centre family donates socks to migrants

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Rockville Centre residents Denise Kass and her husband, Joel, have been political activists for many years, dating back to Barack Obama’s presidential campaign.

Thanks to a chance meeting at a local church, the former Oceanside school teacher and her husband were inspired to put in the “leg”-work by organizing a warm sock drive for families living in migrant shelters.

Their goal was to make an even greater impact on those in need this holiday season.

Kass said she felt the need to take a more proactive role to try and support others in need. 

She then reached out to Nassau County Legislator Scott Davis and his wife, Debra, who invited them to the United Church on Morris Avenue for a “healing” session.

“That’s where we met Cindy, who told us about the 2,000 migrant families living in tents at Floyd Bennett Field,” Denise Kass said.

Since the spring of 2022, migrants and asylum-seekers, including those who have escaped dire circumstances in their home countries, arrived in New York City by the thousands.

A record influx of migrants crossing the border and the legal obligation to provide them with shelter has forced the city to convert more than 200 hotels and large tented encampments across the five boroughs — including at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn.

Many of the migrants have reportedly been met with “inhumane” conditions at the temporary housing site, according to reports from The Legal Aid Society and the Coalition for the Homeless, which took a tour of the encampment in 2023.

Issues have included privacy and safety concerns, unsanitary living conditions, and long walks through extreme weather conditions to access the restrooms.

“Some were walking in flip-flops in cold weather,” Denise Kass said. “They needed basics like warm socks and clothing.”

The couple then initiated a warm sock drive with the help of Cindy and Chandler Miranda, both volunteers with Floyd Bennett Field Neighbors, a mutual aid volunteer collective of people dedicated to assisting migrant families who recently arrived and entered the Brooklyn community, and those living in the four tents at Floyd Bennett Field.

“The families have to walk a half-mile to get to transportation to bring their children to school,” Denise Kass explained in a flyer, which her husband helped distribute in an effort to help others this winter. “This is one way we can help support their needs.”

With collection bins placed at the back of the Kass house, the effort started small, but through the support of members of the Rockville Centre Democratic Club, it quickly gained momentum.

“We began with six pairs, then 100, then 200, and before we knew it, we had 600 pairs of socks,” Denise Kass said.

They were then put in contact with Faizal Ali, the owner of The Sock Factory in Garden City, who provided an extremely generous donation.

“He didn’t even hesitate when I called him,” Denise Kass said. “He told us to come down, and he filled our car with 1,700 pairs of socks. Thanks to him, we now have about 2,400 pairs to distribute.”

Kass said they plan to distribute the socks before the holidays with the help of the Floyd Bennett Field Neighbors organization.

“It’s incredible to see how what started as a little seed grew into something,” Denise Kass said. “Warm socks make such a big difference, especially in the cold weather.”

Joel Kass said this wasn’t the first time that he and Denise hosted a sock drive for those in need. They previously helped collect about 400 socks for workers in Freeport by going around to different mom-and-pop stores in the area.

Expecting similar results, the couple was shocked to receive such an overwhelming show of support.

“Everything in life comes from people,” Joel Kass said. “This month, our community was the magic.”

In spite of their efforts, the future for the families currently taking shelter at Floyd Bennett Field remains uncertain after New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced that his administration plans to close the shelter in the coming months.

Migrants staying at the family shelter have to leave by Jan. 15, and the city will officially terminate its lease with the federally owned facility on March 10.

“The tents are coming down within two months, and we don’t know where they’re going to go,” Denise Kass said. “It’s heartbreaking to think about the disruption they face, especially the children who have been placed in local schools.”

The plan to shut down the shelter at Floyd Bennett Field, along with 24 other migrant shelters, in 2025 has not deterred the couple from their mission.

They expressed hope that their efforts will inspire others to take small steps toward meaningful change in the future.