Students at West Central Public School pose beside their Socktober donation box before the socks get donated to Our House. (submitted photo/Heidi Abbey-Der)

By Dawson Thompson

Socktober

Students at local school complete clothing drive for P.A. homeless population

Nov 3, 2020 | 4:36 PM

Students from West Central Public School were involved in a clothing drive during the month of October, collecting over 400 pairs of socks to donate to the Prince Albert Our House, in an effort called ‘Socktober’.

Grade 5 and 6 teacher Heidi Abbey-Der said she has been doing this drive with her students for four years. The idea came from watching a ‘Kid President’ YouTube video about Socktober.

Many people who donate clothing to shelters which help the homeless will donate items such as coats, gloves, and hats but do not think about donating socks as well. That is why this clothing drive focuses on providing socks to shelters.

Abbey-Der says the drive is all run by the students. She brings the idea to the table, and the students take it from there.

“The only thing I do is tell them the plan. If they are interested, then they are responsible for all the videos,” Abbey-Der said. “Students love it. They love being responsible for it, they took charge of everything.”

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According to Abbey-Der students’ families would buy the socks, and students would bring them to the school to put in the donation box which was also made by the students. Staff and students from all grades at the school also contributed to the donation.

West Central’s Principal Kevin Tait said this clothing drive is a positive thing for students to get involved with.

“It provides our students with a sense of citizenship,” Tait said. “Our class became very engaged in it. They took a lot of pride in collecting [clothing], and a lot of responsibility in letting the public know and doing something for our community.”

Manager of Our House Edna Bruce said she will take the socks to the new cold weather shelter at the grandstand on Exhibition Drive tomorrow.

“There is no end to people needing warm socks,” Bruce said. “I have had three people come this fall with no shoes, no socks on. Luckily, we have been able to give them both.

“I can’t say enough about the good people at West Central. It is not a huge school so this is absolutely a tremendous effort from that community and those kids.”

West Central’s Grade 5 and 6 class goal was to collect 400 pairs of socks. Their final total was 411 pairs of socks and 20 pairs of gloves and toques.

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Dawson.thompson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: dawsonthompson8