Students in the Rimer CLC NOW Program with teacher,
Ms. Kalil, and the socks they collected for Project RISE.
This fall, groups of students from three different APS schools participated in a sock collection project for Project RISE. This special project, called “Socktober” began in October of 2014 at Sam Salem Elementary School. The Project was started by Megan Kalil and her students in the N.O.W. Program (No Opportunity Wasted). This year, socks were collected at Sam Salem CLC, Rimer CLC and Litchfield Middle School.
The socks collected were given to Project RISE (Realizing Individual Strength Through Education). Project RISE, managed by Debra Manteghi, is a federally funded program through Ohio Department of Education. This program is a collaborative effort by Akron Public Schools, local shelters and the Akron community to provide supplemental educational services to children and youth experiencing homelessness. Project RISE gave out most of the socks at their annual Harvest Dinner on November 17th. The rest of the socks will be distributed to families experiencing homelessness through the Project RISE Clothing & Resource Room at Family Promise.
Project RISE Staff Member Rachel Breece with Rimer CLC
N.O.W. Program Students and Ms. Megan Kalil
Ms. Kalil, who is now the N.O.W. Program at Rimer CLC, was excited to bring the Project to Rimer CLC this year. “It’s a great project for the students. They love doing it and it’s a great opportunity to teach them about giving back.” The N.O.W. Program students were able to collect 565 pairs of socks, which is excellent given it is the first “Socktober” at Rimer CLC. On November 9th, Rachel Breece and David Scharlotte of Project RISE were able to meet the N.O.W. Program students at Rimer CLC and collect the socks. They shared some background information on the Project RISE program and the students they serve. They were also able to answer the students’ questions about Project RISE and take photographs. The students were excited to talk to the Project RISE representatives about the “Socktober” Project and even helped Mr. Scharlotte and Ms. Breece of Project RISE load the socks into their vehicle.
Rimer CLC Students Help David Scharlotte of
Project RISE load donated socks into vehicle.
During their meeting with the students, the Project RISE Staff Members were happy to learn more about the Project from students in the N.O.W. Program. Brandon McCord explained that he was happy to do the “Socktober” Project again and this year, asked his dad to take posters about the sock collection effort to his workplace.
Kaiden Friedt, another student in Ms. Kalil’s class, told the visiting RISE Staff Members: “I was really happy to do this project again because it’s the right thing to do and it’s a fun thing to do with my friends”.
Ms. Kalil explained that she definitely wanted to bring the “Socktober” Project to her new location this year, saying: “I think I’m going to be doing this until I retire! We were happy with the turn out being the pilot year at Rimer CLC. We were happy the new school got on board with the project!”
Students from Litchfield Middle School and Sam Salem CLC also collected socks for a “Socktober” project. Litchfield Middle School Students collected 450 pairs of socks. The efforts were coordinated by Litchfield teacher, Sandra Cline.
At Sam Salem CLC, students in Mr. Edward Savoy’s 5th grade class also coordinated a “Socktober” collection effort and school contest. The students were able to collect and donate 800 pairs of socks for students served by Project RISE.
N.O.W. Program Students
Project RISE would like to sincerely thank all of the teachers, students and community members who donated socks. New socks are something clients in their program can always use and are happy to receive.
During the 2015-2016 school year, Project RISE identified and served over 1,850 students experiencing homelessness. For more information on Project RISE and how you can help, please contact Debra Manteghi at 330-761-2969 or dmantegh@apslearns.org.
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