Submitted article
One of the greatest lessons children can learn is to give back to their community and help others. The Galion City Schools fifth grade teachers made it a point at the start of the 2014-2015 school year with a community service project for their students to help others in need.
The fifth grade team, after reviewing the idea from YouTube sensation Kid President, decided to launch the “Socktober” fundraiser at the Intermediate School. In the three-minute video, Kid President challenged Internet users to change the world.
“I presented the ‘Socktober’ idea to my fifth grade teammates and we thought it would be a great way to get our students helping others in need,” Fifth Grade teacher Paula Prince said. “He shared that there are 600,000 people in the United State who don’t have a home, and challenged us to think about three questions that could change the world.”
The three questions posed in Kid President’s video included:
- What are you not okay with?
- What do you have?
- What can we do about it?
Marsha Garverick, a fellow Socials Studies teacher, and Prince introduced the project during their Social Studies classes and passed out flyers for the students to take home.
“We went with Kid President’s idea of socks because we knew that socks would be an important necessity since winter is around the corner,” Prince said. “All socks donated were taken to local shelters to help our neighbors.”
Approximately 160 fifth graders participated in the fundraiser. Students decorated boxes where socks could be dropped off for “Socktober.” The Walmart on Lexington-Sprigmill Road in Ontario donated hundreds of pairs of socks for the fundraiser.
“Our students really came together to help those in need, and they got excited each time someone brought in socks to donate,” Prince said. “In total, we collected 860 pairs of socks for those in need in our community.”
The Galion Intermediate fifth grade team consists of Prince, Garverick, Jenny Reagan, Christine Smith, Sue Stark, Kristi Jackson, Neal Rhinehart and Suzanne Woodmansee.
“On behalf of the Board of Education, I would like to personally congratulate our fifth grade teachers and their students for taking the time and finding a unique avenue for helping those in need in our community,” Superintendent Mark Stefanik said. “Student-led community service projects enhance the overall education of students in the Galion City Schools, and I am very pleased with our 5th grade team for their involvement in this project.”
For more information about the “Socktober” fundraiser, please contact Paula Prince at 419-468-3676 or email prince.paula@galionschools.org.