MORE THAN £1,000 worth of socks have been collected by pupils wanting to make a difference to lives of the city’s homeless.
A winter sock collection held by students at Grace Academy Coventry saw more than 700 pairs donated as part of the Socktober drive.
Prefects at the school were inspired to launch the collection after attending an assembly about how ‘everyone can do something’ and ‘little things make a big difference’.
The socks were donated to Harnall Lifehouse which is run by the Salvation Army and offers a city-wide service for those facing homelessness in Coventry.
Students also raised £612 on a non-uniform day, which they also donated to the cause as well as Children In Need.
Sharon Lardner, Harnall Lifehouse’s service manager, said many homeless people came through their doors and this included rough sleepers, both men and women.
She added: “Often when they arrive they have nothing, so with winter approaching fast it is wonderful we can offer them some warm socks to help keep their feet warm.
“This kind donation is greatly appreciated by our clients and staff, thank you Grace Academy.”
Serena McCarthy, assistant principal for ethos and student life, said she realised socks were really important for homeless people but knew they were not donated very often.
She added she decided to launch the competition to see how many socks each of their students could collect during the month of October.
“One Form all brought in £1 and went out to see how many socks they could buy with it,” she said.
“Everyone could get involved as socks are not a super-high price, and it was a creative and engaging way to get students meeting the needs of the local community.
“The students who collected the most socks won a pizza lunch and they really got behind it.”
