Socks for Seniors

By Patricia O’Connell

LEOMINSTER – The entry way at St. Anna Elementary school was lined with bins of socks. There were thin black socks and thick white socks. Some of the socks had colorful stripes. Other socks had cheery starburst patterns.
They will soon be given to needy seniors in 21 communities throughout North Central Worcester County as part of a project spearheaded by the school’s National Junior Honor Society.
Last spring, the school was granted a charter to participate in the prestigious organization. Membership is open to the sixth, seventh and eighth grades.
Currently, 13 students belong to the new NJHS chapter.
Danielle Colvert, principal of St. Anna, said the sock drive is officially called “Socks for Seniors.” It is being done in conjunction with a local bank and with Montachusett Home Care, which will distribute the socks.
Good grades are just one requirement for membership in the honor society, noted Mrs. Colvert. Students must also demonstrate and possess other qualities.
“The National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) is the nation’s premier organization, established to recognize outstanding middle school students,” she explained. “It’s more than just an honor roll. NJHS serves to honor those students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of scholarship, leadership, service, character and citizenship.”
“Chapter membership not only recognizes students for their accomplishments but challenges them to develop further through active involvement in school activities and community service,” she added. “Members of the Honor Club are students at St. Anna who share these qualities but who have not reached the minimum age requirement for membership in the National Junior Honor Society.”
Mrs. Colvert said “Socks for Seniors” project fit in very well with the NJHS’s service requirements.
Plus, she said, the project was easy to implement, as the sock drive started and ended within the course of a week. It also allowed the entire student body to participate.
“My first sense is that the kids are very excited about it,” she said.
Also, Mrs. Colvert said asking families to donate socks involved a minimal financial outlay.
“Families have a lot of expenses,” she said. “A pair of socks can be found even at the dollar store.”
At the beginning of this week, Mrs. Colvert already had about 70 pairs of socks. She expected many more.
“Our goal is to have each student bring in something,” she said, noting that the minimum suggestion was for each of the school’s 187 students to bring in one pair of men’s or women’s socks. Some students will bring more.
Classes that have 100 percent participation will be treated to an ice cream Sunday party, she said.