CTV News Edmonton has reported:

Students at Mount Pleasant School collected more than 5,000 pairs of socks for the Mustard Seed’s Socktober campaign, surpassing their initial target of 700 pairs. The school set the first goal at two pairs per student, and later raised it to 3,000, with a promised pie-in-the-face for principal Randy Witte if students reached that mark.

“We really had no idea what to expect,” Witte said. He said the students’ response soon showed they could raise the target. At an assembly on Tuesday, students cheered as Witte put on goggles and a hazmat suit before students pied him multiple times.

“I really enjoyed it when it went up the nose and then on top of the head,” Witte said sarcastically. “But it was worth it. You could tell by the reactions of the kids, they had so much fun.”

Grade 6 student Lucas Li was among those who threw pies. He said students take pride in helping others and donated four pairs of socks himself. “We want to raise the socks to help people not be cold. We want everyone to be warm,” Li said.

The Mustard Seed distributes socks to Edmonton’s homeless population every day, with demand especially high in winter. Mike Cabiltes, the organization’s community and engagement coordinator, said clean, warm socks can offer both comfort and reassurance to people who lack regular access to clothing.

“Someone who is unhoused in our communities is regularly on their feet, up and about, and so to give someone who doesn’t have access to clothing regularly something warm and clean and comforting, doesn’t just give them warmth, but it’s giving them that dignity and reassurance that there are people in this community that do care about them,” Cabiltes said. “It’s a big deal.”

Cabiltes said other schools have started taking part in the initiative, and he hopes it gains more traction. The report included files from CTV News Edmonton’s Noah Rishaug.