Team Happy Feet
What motivated you get involved in your community? Team Happy Feet consists of Siena, Stella and Michaela O’Brien from Yonkers, NY. Our parents have always encouraged us to volunteer and to play a role in our community. We learned from a young age that community is very important and is only successful if everyone gets involved. Our dad is from Co. Galway and mom is from Co. Monaghan.
How do you think your community work has brought about positive change? We think our "Thermal Sock Drive" for the homeless the New York is positive message to give back to the more vulnerable in our community. For the past eleven years, we have donated thousands of socks to the Aisling Irish Volunteers for the Homeless, Fr. Brendan Fitzgerald for the St. Barnabas community, and the YWCA of Yonkers, to distribute to those in most need. Socks are one of the most appreciated items by a homeless person and it is certainly rewarding to know that our small initiative helps people. A pair of socks can easily change your day by keeping your feet warm and cozy, as cozy makes you happy.
Team Happy Feet is also an annual social event for us, as our friends and loyal supporters in the community come along and donate socks, with us supplying a cup of tea, some treats and a warm smile for everyone.
Has your job or profession helped in your community work? Siena and Stella are high school students at Maria Regina High School, Hartsdale, NY, Siena and Stella have completed Foroige’s Leadership for Life program offered at their school and have traveled to Maynooth College, Ireland to complete models of the program. Foroige, Ireland’s largest youth organization, offers an excellent program on community development. This has inspired us to expand our sock drive within our community, as we now accept many essential supplies, such as deodorant, hats, scarves, toothbrushes and toothpaste.
Michaela attends Patricia A. DiChiaro school, Yonkers and is encouraged by her teachers to be involved in the community and support others. All three of us take part in many service focused clubs, all while volunteering and working with teams to help others through programs at our schools.
Something people would be surprised to know about us... We gift wrap hundreds of thermal socks for the homeless at Christmas time and visit the YWCA of Yonkers on Christmas Eve to deliver these donations so that their service users have something to open on Christmas morning.
Biography: Team Happy Feet was started in 2012, when our youngest sister, Michaela O'Brien was celebrating her first birthday. Our parents decided against hosting a party laced with birthday gifts, but instead they would have us host a Thermal Sock Drive for the Homeless. And from there, Team Happy Feet was born.
As we reluctantly kissed goodbye to our birthday parties eleven years ago, we are now so happy to celebrate meaningfully with all our friends at our annual get together. The idea is simple; instead of gifts, everyone brings a pair of thermal socks. Siena (17) is a senior, Stella (16) a junior at Maria Regina High School, and Michaela (12) is an eighth grader at Patricia A. DiChiaro, Yonkers.
The initiative has grown over the years and so have we. We no longer depend on our parents to organize our sock drive, as we realize how personally rewarding it is to each of us, and so we plan to continue as Team Happy Feet for many years to come.
To be homeless is one of the saddest and most despairing situations in life, so by Team Happy playing a small part by offering essential supplies, we can at least help in the short-term.
Team Happy Feet welcomes all support from the community to help us continue our mission. Numerous people ship socks to our home if they cannot attend our event, as we never turn down a pair of socks.
Siena, Stella and Michaela reside in Yonkers and all three girls are involved in the community including St. Brigid’s GAA Club, The Riverdale Children’s Theater, Bridget Flynn Dance School, Team Aisling and other community organizations.
To contact Team Happy Feet regarding Thermal Socks email obrienssm3@gmail.com
