By Lindsey Rogers
CHITTENDEN —Ms. Leslie Ladabouche’s 3rd grade class at Barstow Memorial School in Chittenden is hosting a Socktober sock drive from Oct. 1-31.
Help Ms. Ladabouche’s class reach its goal of 450 socks. Look for a ‘Socktober’ box like this at one of the participating locations.
This year is the debut of the event, but Ms. Ladabouche plans to make it an annual drive if it is successful.
The students decorated 12 boxes, and “are going to put boxes at local places,” explained 3rd-grader Max Crane.
Locations include:
- Rutland Regional Medical Center
- VELCO
- Wonderfeet Kids’ Museum
- Wooden Barrel market in Chittenden
- Community Health Centers
- Chittenden Public Library (can put right into book deposit box)
- Rutland Public Library (can put right into book deposit box)
- Seven-Day Adventist Church, Rutland
- Dr. Baasch Dental, Rutland
- Mountain Times office
- Barstow Elementary
- Mendon Town Hall
“Our goal is to get to 450 pairs of socks,” said Oscar Hyams, a 3rd-grader.
“We are donating the socks to homeless shelters, children in foster care, and families in need,” added Jane Pyne.
“There are over 1,400 foster children in Vermont,” Lincoln Copans noted.
Ms. Leslie Ladabouche’s 3rd grade class at Barstow Memorial School in Chittenden. Pictured (l-r), top: Leslie Ladabouche, Aidan Bates, Sawyer Campbell, Owen Brosnan, Lincoln Copans, Teddy Copans, Jane Pyne. Middle: Aiden Daubenspeck, Alex Bruno, Jacob Prior, Oscar Hyams, Eli Frei, Max Crane, Frances Cotter. Front: Hank Loffredo, Arden Hummel, Grayson Cupoli, Bella Gee. Missing from photo: Anna Upjohn Marsh.
“Socks can help prevent frostbite and blisters,” added Grayson Cupoli.
Additionally, “We want to send the socks to another state and another country,” said Hank Loffredo.
“This October, we want to show that even a small act of caring, such as donating a pair of socks, can make a big difference in the lives of our neighbors who are down on their luck,” said Ms. Ladabouche, adding: “There are Youtube videos by Kid President, he’s a kid that does motivational videos, and talks about kindness and doing things for others. Kid President was talking about Socktober, and the class talked about it and decided we wanted to give it a try,” she said.
“Please bring in only new socks,” Owen Brosnan added.