Kids & Family

Bolingbrook 3rd-Graders Sell Cards & Raise $555 for Low Income Families, Homeless

Independence Elementary School students sent the money the collected to Power Connection, a Bolingbrook agency that provides services to low income families and those who are homeless.

The following article was submitted by Valley View School District 365U:

Students in Jessica Groebe’s 3rd grade class at Independence raised a phenomenal $555 last week simply by selling 25 cent post cards to students and staff at the Bolingbrook elementary school.

The money was sent to Power Connection, a Bolingbrook-based agency that provides a wide range of services to local residents including low income families and those who are homeless.

The class called their fundraising drive “Socktober,” which is a movement started by YouTube sensation, comedian and motivational speaker Kid President.

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“My class loves Kid President and we try to live by his pep talk,” Groebe said. “Roughly 250 students in VVSD are homeless. Homeless no longer necessarily means someone on the streets living in a cardboard box. It means people who have lost their jobs and homes, and are now forced to live with relatives, in hotels or in a shelter.”

The class’ Socktober event involved a simple concept. They sold the 25 cent postcards in the morning and students wrote positive messages on them to fellow students, teachers, aides, lunchroom staff, office staff, etc. The postcards were collected and distributed before the end of the day, along with two Jolly Ranchers, to each recipient.

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“All of the postcards had notes of friendship, encouragement, and gratitude,” Groebe said. “I’m so excited and proud.”

The Socktober event lasted five days.


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