The students at AD Rundle middle school have helped warm the feet of some of Chilliwack’s most vulnerable people after collecting more than 400 pair of socks for Ruth and Naomi’s Mission.
The 447 pairs of socks were collected in a short two-week period before the kids went on spring break.
“It is amazing. It’s astounding… it blew my expectations,” said Muryn Jordan.
She, along with Erich Petkau and Dustin de Jong, are all teacher candidates doing their practicum at the school. They’re taking the Bachelor of Education program at the University of the Fraser Valley and this community project at AD Rundle is part of their graduation requirement.
The five boxes bursting with socks were delivered outside Ruth and Naomi’s on Wednesday. They will be handed out not only to homeless folks, but also to the families living in the newly opened 36-unit Family Centre as well.
READ MORE: Family Centre opened Friday at Ruth and Naomi’s
“It’s going to mean a huge lift for our families,” said John Gray, director of clinical services at Ruth and Naomi’s. “To be able to go and provide some of the basic clothing and necessities is a real gift.”
The idea came out of a required reading project for the entire middle school of the book ‘No Fixed Address,’ a novel by Susin Nielsen. It’s a story about a 12-year-old boy who lives in a van with his mom.
“We had the idea of doing a sock collection for the Chilliwack homeless because all of the students have already been reading about homelessness through eyes of the 12-year-old boy,” Jordan said.
They wanted to keep the project affordable for all students. Those who couldn’t afford to donate a pair of socks, could donate a dollar towards the case instead.
The kids even had a friendly competition between grades to see who could collect the most pairs of socks.
“We’re thrilled about the heart and the capacity with which the kids have given,” Gray said.
An item as simple as a pair of socks can mean a lot to those in need, he added.
“It is a huge opportunity to see people thrive and grow and feel healthy and feel normal,” Gray said.
RELATED: Chilliwack churches unite to bring essential items to people living on the streets
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