MISSOULA – The month of October isn’t all about candy or costumes for fourth-grade students at St. Joesph Elementary School — it’s about giving back.
Every year they host a fundraiser giving the month of October a new name.
During Sock-tober the school and Christ the King Church partner with the Poverello Center to collects socks. Those socks are then distributed to the homeless in Missoula.
Zachary Mauldin, the volunteer coordinator for the POV, says this month sock donations are extremely important.
“This time of year it’s getting cold so it’s very nice to have upwards of a thousand two thousand socks that we can provide a couple pairs of socks to each person,” Mauldin said.
“You know it keeps their feet warm, protects their feet. It’s related to hygiene as well so it’s incredibly important. We actually get rid of the socks very fast too,” Mauldin added.
Fourth-grade teacher Katie Wardisiani says her students anticipate this event for months.
“For my students, it is all about looking out for somebody else and doing something kind and being a good person for others and setting an example for younger students and for those that look up to them,” said Wardisiani.
The students have a lot of reasons for participating in the event but at the core of their excitement is the same message — they love helping the people in their community.
So far the students have collected over 1,300 pairs of socks out of their goal of 2,000. Donations are being accepted at the Poverello Center and the school’s front office until November 2.
