Socktober | School District Helping Hands

Working For Change

A group of young boys and girls who are already striving to make a positive change in their environment. What you are visualizing occurred in October at Gaston Elementary School.

Called Socktober, the event saw Gaston students collect bundles of socks for a local family shelter. The event, originally identified from Kid President, a motivational childhood figure, was encouraged by Principal Brandye Hereford for the Gaston Student Council to take on. “We were inspired by our school principal”, said Gaston teacher and Student Council Advisor Betty Otter.

The objective was to collect socks of all sizes and varieties from classrooms that students donated on a daily basis. “People from every class helped,” said a Gaston student. Students also had a day dedicated to wearing playful socks on Crazy Sock Day. For every pair of socks brought in and by showing off their silly socks, each child received raffle tickets for a prize at the end of the month.
 

 

Doing Good & Crafting Leadership Skills

Otter explained that the teachers wanted to make this event exciting by giving away prizes and promoting donations. The children at Gaston Elementary raised three large pumpkin-decorated bags filled with socks to go to Hands of Faith that serves families in need. Third graders from the student council were chosen by teachers as official role models and collected socks from each grade. “Our teacher said we were doing good in class, so they picked us,” said one of the third grade boys nominated.

Otter emphasized that another important aspect of the event is that it gives students a chance to craft their leadership skills. She said she plans to continue Socktober next year and beyond with Gaston Elementary students making a positive difference, one sock at a time.
 

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