For the second straight year, Lincoln students and staff will be participating in “Socktober,” a month-long sock drive that encourages students to help give back to their community. The drive is organized by the school’s PBIS team, which focuses on a school-wide character trait each month.

“Socktober” at Lincoln began last year to coincide with Bullying Prevention Week when the school focused on kindness and after the PBIS team found out that socks are among the most requested items by people in homeless shelters.

A nationally known outreach effort, “Socktober” was created by author Brad Montague when he realized there was a large homeless population in his hometown. While researching the needs of the homeless community, he learned that socks are the items least donated to homeless shelters. Montague began to film himself wishing people “Happy Socktober!” as he gave out pairs of socks on the streets, posting these videos to social media.

Since then, Socktober has exploded. Kids and adults around the world started their own sock drives to benefit their local homeless shelters.

A pile of sock donations from Lincoln School’s 2021 Socktober sock drive. The drive this school year will benefit the Blue Star Mothers and socks will be donated forward to members of the United States Armed Forces.

Last year, participants on all seven continents donated pairs of socks.

Melissa Forster, Lincoln teacher and PBIS Tier I coach, noted that the drive has been an innovative, easy and fun way to reinforce kindness.

“Our Lincoln family brought in 2,886 pairs of socks last year so we were able to donate more places than we had expected,” said Melissa Forster. “We were able to donate tons of socks to local organizations like the Safe House, YMCA, Boys & Girls Club, UCAN Mission, and so many others.”

This year, socks will be donated to the local Blue Star Mothers to be donated in return to members of the U.S. Armed Forces. This patriotic act also coincides with Lincoln’s annual “Patriotic Concert” ahead of Veterans Day, organized by music teacher Cathy South.

“The Patriotic Concert is one that has become a tradition at Lincoln,” South said. “This year it will be performed by the 2nd graders and we’ll be performing a number of songs, including the song ‘Proud of our Veterans.'”

That song, South noted, is always a powerful moment for the students and the audience.

“When the kids see the veterans in the audience stand to be recognized it is a very powerful moment — they see who we are singing for, and it is an honor to be able to thank them for their service.”

The students will also perform “This Land Is Your Land,” “You’re A Grand Old Flag,” and “Oh, I Love America.” They’ll also sing and perform sign language to “The Pledge of Allegiance.”

“Our students will also be performing poems and “The Liberty Bell” march on handbells,” she added. “I just love how our entire school works together to honor and help others!”