Students at Wes Hosford Elementary dressed in their craziest socks to launch the school's inaugural Socktober Week, a school-based sock drive to raise awareness and support for the homeless. 
Using the slogan "wear a pair, give a pair" students designed creative posters, developed promotional videos and built donation boxes to collect as many new socks as possible. The school's goal was to collect 325 pairs of socks a number it more than doubled. Over the course of the week October 17-21 students collected an impressive 886 pairs of new socks, which will all be given to the Edmonton-based Hearts 4 the Homeless.
"Every year, Hearts 4 the Homeless collects winter clothing for those who need it, and socks are typically the one item that's rarely donated," says Jodi Elgie, the organizing teacher at Wes Hosford Elementary. "Throughout the year, we are always looking for ways to include our students in community-service learning opportunities. Because we host an annual crazy-sock day, Socktober seemed like the perfect fit."
In addition to the sock collection, various lesson plans focused on the importance of helping others coincided with the Socktober campaign. Overall, students gained a better appreciation for the less fortunate in the Edmonton area and an understanding that everyone can do something to help, even if it seems small at the time.
"I think Socktober was a good idea because Edmonton is cold in the winter and the socks will help people stay warm," says a Grade 3 student at Wes Hosford Elementary. "We have everything we need. So, I think, it's good to make sure other people have their needs met too."
Looking ahead, the school plans to make Socktober Week an annual event and even hopes to increase its sock donations. Other annual community-service learning opportunities Wes Hosford Elementary takes part in include the Terry Fox National School Day, the Hair Massacure, and a collection for the Strathcona Christmas Bureau.
Wes Hosford Elementary is a Kindergarten to Grade 6 school serving approximately 470 students and is one of 42 schools within Elk Island Public Schools. More information about Wes Hosford Elementary is available at www.weshosford.ca.
