Monte Vista students and teachers are gathering socks for three local homeless shelters, all while making this a fun homecoming competition.

Socks are being gathered for three homeless shelters: Cassidy Program for Homeless Seniors, The Family Emergency Shelter Coalition, and The Shepherd’s Gate. The school has currently collected about 500 socks.

The sock drive class competition, named “Socktober”, was inspired by 10-year-old Robby Novak, also known as Kid President. Along with Sesame Street’s Grover, they are raising awareness about Socktober, an initiative that encourages everyone, both adults and kids alike, to collect and distribute socks to the estimated 600,000 people who are homeless in the United States.

The Cassidy Program provides emergency financial assistance to homeless or marginally housed low-income seniors.

They provide transitional resources for the homeless such as clinics, shelters, and alcohol and drug rehab treatments.

The Family Shelter Coalition assists families in moving towards self-sufficiency. It provides both initial protection and a starting point for guests who are in need of a safe place to being to address their problems and create plans for the future.

Their services include providing housing support to families, individual/ group/ family mental health services, parenting classes, enrichment activities, and other services that support parents and ensure children continue to thrive during their homelessness.

The Shepherd’s Gate is on a mission to free women and children from the destructive cycle of child abuse.

Their two campuses, located in Livermore and Brentwood, provide long-term, comprehensive care to some of California’s most vulnerable people: women and children experiencing homelessness due to poverty, addiction, domestic violence, and other threats.

“I hope to reach out and benefit our community by helping locals,” Gabby Garcy says.