Some young students will be hustling for chocolate bars and other sweets this month. The ones at Bowmar Elementary School are angling for a different treat.

“Bring socks.”

“We need socks.”

“Bring socks to Bowmar.”

These are the requests from a few of the Bowmar students who were instrumental in coming up with the idea of a “Socktober.”

During the month of October, the school’s goal is to collect 800 pairs of new socks, which will then be distributed to the River City Rescue Mission and Lifting Lives Family Shelter, school counselor Pam Parman said.

“Mrs. (Neely) Ming’s first grade class came up with the idea,” Parman said, after being spurred on by a Kid President YouTube video that is aimed at helping shape the way children see the world and the way the world sees them.

During one of these brief YouTube videos, Kid President shares with his viewers the difference one can make by just donating socks to the homeless.

Played by Robby Novak, Kid President said his brother started the first Socktober in 2010 and now each year during the month of October millions of socks are donated to those in need.

“It makes me feel good,” first-grader Shelby Williams said, about giving socks to the homeless.

In an effort to get the sock fundraiser underway and to get the entire student body involved in the project, Parman said Ming’s first-grade students reached out to Bowmar’s Student Light House team.

“The Student Light House team is comprised of fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade students,” Parman said, who have gone through an interview process and have exhibited good grades and good behavior.

This year, 18 students serve on the committee. Their role includes doing service projects, which is why Ming’s class sought out their help.

Marie Bourne, who is another one of Ming’s students, said holding a Socktober is fun, while also helpful to people who don’t have new socks.

“If their socks get torn up, the skin could come off the bottom of their feet,” Bourne said.

First-grade student Troy Thomas added, “And if people have to wear the same socks every day, they could get sick.”

While the goal is to collect 800 pairs of socks, Bourne said it was perfectly fine if they exceeded that number.

“That’s why you have numbers over that,” she said, of the large sock tracker drawn on poster board measuring the number of socks collected.

All along the halls at Bowmar, baskets are set outside classrooms for students to donate new socks.

In addition to the students, Parman said, the community is welcome to donate socks.

“I know there is a fifth-grader that went and told her church about what we are doing, so now her church is going to donate socks,” Parman said.

“And if you don’t have money, you can ask your friends to buy socks,” Bourne said.

New socks for children and adults will be collected the whole month of October. Those who would like to contribute, Parman said, can drop off the socks at the school at 912 Bowmar Ave.