Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Helping the needy sock it to the cold
WITH the aim of keeping thousands of feet warm this coming winter, Bergvliet High School, in collaboration with the Bergvliet Lions Club, will be hosting a Sock-A-Thon on Human Rights Day, March 21, as a way of giving back to the less fortunate.
Having already collected 10 500 pairs of socks, which if laid end to end would measure at least 10km, Gail Darling from the Bergvliet Lions Club said they hoped to break the world record for the longest line of socks while helping those in need.
“First, I am first hoping to get thousands more socks to put on thousands of feet. Second, I would like to attempt the longest line of socks in the world.
“In this way, the public will see how rewarding and fun it is to be part of the Lions Club. We are the largest service organisation in the world.
“I would like to see this event get more and more new members, as that will mean that the communities will be better served. Our motto is ‘where there is a need, there is a Lion’, so the more members, the better.
“I’m extremely passionate about ‘paying it forward’ to the less fortunate. I believe most people would like to help but are unsure of how to make a difference in someone’s life.
“By donating socks or by donating
towards buying socks, one can, for less than the price of a cup of coffee, make an impact by giving someone a pair of socks and at the same time helping
to restore their dignity,” said Darling.
On the day of the Sock-A-Thon the socks will be laid out on the sports field. They will be measured by a qualified surveyor and verified by an auditor. Once this is done, the socks will be given to charities to distribute.
Councillor Carmen Siebritz said it was important to participate in the fund-raiser because it aimed to restore dignity of the less fortunate.
“I think it’s important to restore dignity because it’s a two-way street.
“As a parent of a special-needs child, I teach kindness and respect in my home. This allows my son to behave in a dignified manner even though he is daily surrounded by other learners with special needs and different socio-economic backgrounds.
“I wish to thank the Bergvliet Lions Club for reaching out and caring. They are indeed ensuring that no child is left behind, and it’s a privilege and honour to have been invited to share this special occasion with the learners, parents, and all involved,” said Siebritz.
Darling said she hoped the length of the chain could be doubled or even tripled, so many people could benefit from the Sock-A-Thon.
“I feel that we often take things for granted – something as simple as a pair of clean, comfy socks.
“If we could make children aware of their privilege, and appreciate the value of items, we would have a more caring community.
“If I can teach one pupil the need to be considerate and caring for the less fortunate, then the Sock-A-Thon will be a success,” said Darling.
There will be food trucks, music and fun activities on the day.