Preston O’Donnell has done it.
The Bradford Elementary student, who turns 7 this week, has surpassed her goal of collecting 3,000 socks for the Upper Valley Haven as part of Socktober, a national campaign that encourages kids to collect socks for homeless residents in their communities. The final count: 3,916 pairs of socks and $1,955.
“The truck was packed with thousands and thousands of socks,” Preston said about the delivery she made to the Haven on Wednesday. Preston’s mother, Katie O’Donnell, said there were 16 locations throughout the Upper Valley where people brought donations.
“We counted socks almost every night,” O’Donnell said.
“Collecting socks was so tiring,” Preston added.
“Did you give up?” O’Donnell asked her daughter.
“You keep trying and you try and try,” Preston said.
Preston spoke excitedly about bringing the donations to the Haven.
“I got to jump in the box and popped out with socks flying up in the air and I said, ‘Happy Socktober, everybody!’ That’s what I said,” she recounted.
But even with the moments of joy tat followed, the campaign also offered an opportunity to talk about issues in the community and what they can do to help.
The staff at the Upper Valley Haven delighted in Preston’s Socktober campaign.
“The first reaction is this is amazing. She is so cute,” said Michael Redmond, The Haven’s executive director. “But then the next thought is, ‘What can I do? How can I be helpful?’ ”
Redmond said the socks came in at the perfect time of year.
“Preston and her mom and the other people she brought on board just did an amazing job covering the Upper Valley that resulted in this amazing donation for items of clothing that are very, very much needed throughout the winter,” Redmond said.
They picked the number 3,000 because there are about 1,500 people without homes in Vermont at any given time, and Preston and her mom wanted every person to have two pairs of socks.
The socks will be handed out when The Haven’s seasonal shelter opens within the next few weeks.
“Socks are one of the things we are able to give away to people staying in the shelter that are much in need,” Redmond said.
The Haven is also in the midst of its winter coat and outerwear drive.
“Socks are really important, as are our winter coats and shoes,” Redmond said. “Winter coats come in and go out within a week. It’s a constant flow of materials.”
As for Preston, she’s already thinking ahead to her next fundraising campaign. Next September, she wants to collect shoes to go with the socks, but the mother and daughter aren’t committing to anything quite yet.
So what did Preston learn from the experience?
“If you ask the community to help you …,” O’Donnell started.
“I get good things to happen,” Preston finished.
Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com or 603-727-3221.
