By Charlene Welch, Council for the Homeless
Stephanie Brown, Special Education teacher at Union Ridge Elementary in Ridgefield, believes her students are compassionate and able to contribute to making the community a better place. She shares, “Even though they have challenges with communication or other skills, they are empathetic and feel good about helping others. Socktober is a perfect way for them to engage.”
The students began a sock collection campaign known as Socktober. Throughout October they walk as a group through the halls of the school to visit each classroom over the course of a week gathering the socks collected by all the students in the school. The socks will be donated to Council for the Homeless to share with people in need. Their goal is to collect 1000 pairs of socks, but Mrs. Brown reports that as of October 24th, the students have collected almost 1400 pairs!
Three Reasons Socktober Matters?
- It is a skill-building opportunity for the students. Mrs. Brown’s students have grown in confidence and skills over the month. Visiting the classrooms and asking “Do you have any socks today?” is an accomplishment. They work as team taking turns as wagon puller and line leader. Upon return to the classroom, the students practice counting and sorting as they place the socks in baskets.
- The students are learning about the wider community. Many students do not have occasion to visit the many halls of the rest of the school and it is exciting for them to see their classroom is one of many. They are also reading books in class to give context to Socktober. Mrs. Brown selected story books with themes of poverty, hunger, and even homelessness to illustrate who in our community might need socks and why. She shares, “The book Still a Familytells the story of how a family separated into two shelters stays in touch to show their love for each other.”
- Everyone can participate in acts of kindness and generosity. The children know their socks will warm the feet of people who do not have good socks (or any socks) of their own. Council for the Homeless staff will visit their classroom to accept the socks and thank and celebrate each student.
Council for the Homeless gives a big thank you to Mrs. Brown and her paraeducators and the Union Ridge teachers and administrative staff! You Rocked Socktober!
KGW-TV visited Mrs. Brown’s classroom – check out the video below!
Click here to read more about how to assist people experiencing homelessness during the winter weather.