By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Conneaut fifth grader Colton Barricklow jumped in with both feet for his project to collect socks at his school.
When the sock drive ended last week, he and his fellow students had donated 1,280 pair of socks. Make that 1,281 pair, when the last minute neon yellow socks showed up as Colton was carting the donations out the door.
The sock drive was more successful than Colton had expected.
“I thought it was just about 300 pair,” he said. “I didn’t think there would be that many.”
There were footies, athletic socks, wool socks, striped socks and flowered socks.
Colton organized the sock drive to help less fortunate people who will be attending Project Connect next week.
“I felt like it was a good thing to do for the community,” he said.
In the summer, Colton collected some coats, shirts and pants for Project Connect.
“I went door-to-door, and my mom helped me go on Facebook,” he said.
Then it occurred to him – “Oh no, I need socks,” he said.
So with the help of the K-Kids group at Conneaut, sponsored by the Bowling Green Kiwanis Club, and led by teacher Lauren DeVries, the sock drive began. Each teacher was given a bag for socks, and the K-Kids went to each classroom daily to pick up donations.
“It was very competitive,” with Tammy Beaprez’ class donating the most socks, DeVries said.
Colton, 11, has plans to be a lawyer or neurosurgeon. But right now, he’s a community organizer.
“I feel like it’s a good thing to do,” he said. “Why shouldn’t I do this for someone else less fortunate than me?”
And just maybe, the “mountain of socks” will start an avalanche of good will.
“They may think, someone did this for me, why don’t I do this for someone else,” Colton said.
As Colton and his mom, Katie Barricklow, wheeled out the bags of socks to the car, a crossing guard held the door.
“We made a big difference,” she said, eyeing all the socks.
Colton’s mom praised the students for joining in the project.
“I think it’s amazing,” she said. “It’s really heartwarming to see children involved with helping the community.”
This isn’t her son’s first volunteer effort. He has worked at the animal shelter, helped at a food pantry, rang the bell for the Salvation Army, and participated in “penny wars” for hungry children.
“What’s nice about Project Connect is that it all stays right here,” Katie Barricklow said.
Her secret for getting her son to do volunteer work?
“You have to do it yourself,” she said.
The K-Kids at Conneaut Elementary plan to continue their volunteer efforts. They are planning to decorate a “giving tree” in November with donated hats and gloves, make blankets for children and animal hospitals, and send Valentine letters to children hospitalized in February.
“The kids are really excited,” DeVries said.
