A local school has been collecting socks all October to donate them to those in need.
École Edwards Elementary School has been participating in SOCKtober and is asking residents to help them by donating brand new socks which with be then donated to local organizations that help Airdronians.
Sheri Wigmore, a grade one teacher at École Edwards, explained how SOCKtober came about.
"SOCKtober started years ago with a popular YouTuber in the States. What they realized is that there are an awful lot of homeless around the world, and one of the most necessary things is to keep their feet clean and warm because a lot of illnesses or potential complications come from wearing wet socks continuously. So they thought that a simple outreach would be to collect as many socks and donate as possible.'
Since then SOCKtober has grown globally with many different groups, schools and all those in between partaking in the event.
"We started way back when it was first introduced off, and on at Edwards, and then as we started to build more of a community outreach program with the school five years ago, we have added it as one of our annual community outreach programs."
Over the five years, Wigmore explained they have been closely working with Community Links and Fear is Not Love Society in Calgary which does help Airdronians.
"Last year, we raised almost 2500 pairs of brand new socks."
With a few days left of collecting socks, the school is currently at the 1030 pairs of socks that have been donated. Wigmore also shared that they have also received new pairs of gloves and toques, which they will be more than willing to accept other warm winter gear.
These 10 boxes may not look like much but they are packed full of our current sock donations for SOCKtober! We have 1030 pairs of BRAND NEW socks 🧦!
— École Edwards (@EcoleEdwards) October 22, 2024
We also have 12 new pairs of gloves and 6 warm toques!
We have 7 more days to collect! Can we get to 1500??? ❤️ pic.twitter.com/V2xrSet6F1
"We are hoping to get potentially up to that 2000 mark by next week. But honestly, for the goal, it's just as many as we can to help as many people as we can."
Emails have been sent to the parents of the students at the school asking if they are able to donate please do. The school is collecting donations until the end of the month while donations can be dropped off at the office.
"Once we are done collecting socks, my class and I sort all of them then I contact the organizations to make the donations."
Wigmore thanked everybody who has donated already and hopes every more Airdronians can do the same.
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