Mount Ellis Elementary has always taken great pride in outreach programs. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many usual activities had to be canceled or postponed. The staff and students of MEE decided to find a safe way to minister to our community during this unusual time.
MEE announced Nov. 22, 2020, the school would be participating in the Socks of Love stocking drive for homeless people in the Bozeman, Montana, community. Teachers felt it was important to encourage their students’ natural empathy. Students and their families were asked to collect and donate items to put into Christmas stockings for homeless people. Students brought warm socks, hand warmers, toothbrushes, toothpaste, combs, snacks and more from Nov. 22 until Dec. 14.
Teachers decided to make the collection more fun by encouraging a spirit of friendly competition. Each classroom kept a collection box where the students deposited each item they collected. Every day the piles grew until Dec. 14, when the contest ended and the real fun began.
Each classroom carried giant boxes and bins of collected goods to the gymnasium where the donations were piled onto four tables. Students got to vote for the classroom they thought had the largest pile. Through hard work and determination, the third and fourth graders won. Their pile was so large it almost couldn’t be contained on a single table.
Students assembled Dec. 15 in the gymnasium to stuff the stockings with the donated items. Each student was able to keep a stocking to carry with them in their cars as they traveled around their community. When they saw a person in need, they handed over a stocking to brighten their day.
The whole experience was a positive one for the school and the community alike. Students learned how great it feels to share Jesus’ love with those in need. They also realized how fortunate they were during this holiday season.
