Kindergarten teacher Meghan Dodd wanted to organise a fundraiser with her class to help the homeless in the Greater Shepparton region, and upon hearing that warm socks are something that are hardly thought of, she thought she’d run a sock donation drive.
The fundraiser was inspired by St Mel’s Church’s participation in the Winter Nights Shelter, a collection of nine churches that are providing food, supplies and a place to stay each night for up to 10 homeless gentlemen.
“One of our family members that’s also a volunteer at the Winter Nights Shelter thinks that a lot of people don’t think to donate socks and underwear,” Ms Dodd said.
“So, we decided to run with the sock idea.”
For every 1000 residents of Greater Shepparton, six people are homeless in the community, according to the Greater Shepparton City Council.
Parent Melanie Domaschenz is the venue co-ordinator for the Greater Shepparton Winter Nights Shelter. She said raising awareness in the community was one of the most important steps.
“We have the highest (rate of homelessness) in all of regional Victoria,” she said.
“We have families living in cars, in tents, and there’s a lot of people living in the bush between Shepparton and Mooroopna.”
The fundraiser is scheduled to finish with a celebratory pyjama party for the classes at St Mels Kindy.
“The kids can be comfortable for the day while we try and make homeless people a little bit more comfortable as well with their socks,” Ms Dodd said.
St Mel’s Kindergarten is collecting warm socks in all sizes for the Salvation Army to distribute.
To donate, bring your socks to the kindergarten before August 9.
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