Their team scored, and so did many who are struggling with homelessness.

Students from the Elmira District Secondary School (EDSS) took part in the second annual 20K Sock Day event by collecting socks to help the homeless while cheering on their school hockey team.

EDSS co-presidents Katie Carreon and Dana Gaudette were inspired to take their fundraiser to the next level by not only collecting more than 500 pairs of socks, but also to having a “sock toss” after the Lancers scored the first goal.

“Our school is a really big hockey school and our leadership teacher has been talking to us a lot about doing something with We Be Us, so we talked about it and it fit perfectly together,” said Carreon.

Gaudette says they were inspired by the Kitchener Rangers’ Teddy Bear Toss and brought that idea to the event.

The fundraiser saw more than 100 students make a donation of $3 or give a pair of socks to get a ticket to the quarter final game of the WCSSAA playoffs between EDSS and Waterloo-Oxford District Secondary School.

EDSS began selling tickets and collecting their socks in mid-February, with Carreon noting she’s proud of her school for the work they did to collect so much for the homeless.

“I love our school and I love getting together for events like this,” said Carreon. “I just think it’s really cool to see our school give generously like that.”

Started by We Be Us, a sock company which focuses on giving back to the community, 20K Sock Day expanded this year as the goal was raised to collect 50,000 pairs of socks.

The company hopes this will help the estimated 200,000 people experiencing homelessness in Canada.

The annual event launched nationally in November 2019 and socks were collected until February 21.

All socks collected locally will be donated to Woolwich Community Services so they can give them out to those in need.