Monte Vista rocks with socks for successful fundraiser

SOCK-TACULAR—Members of Monte Vista Middle School's Junior Optimist Club wrap socks from the "Cover These Feet" Sock Drive held at the Camarillo campus. The school collected the socks from Nov. 11 to Nov. 20, tallying 1,171 pairs to be distributed to a number of local charities. Club members include, from left, Anery Miller, Erika Martinez, Yecenia Vasquez, Elizabeth Garcia and Ana Contreras. What started as a friendly competition between Monte Vista Middle School students and adults eventually led to a mountain-sized collection of socks that will be donated to local nonprofit organizations today.

Hoping to collect 400 pairs of socks, participants nearly tripled that figure, collecting 1,171 pairs.

"Isn't that incredible?" said Bev Matsumura, site administrator at Monte Vista.

History teacher Candis Enriquez coordinated the project for the Junior Optimist Club on campus. The socks will go to the RAIN Project Transitional Living Center, Ventura County Rescue Mission, Lighthouse Women and Children's Mission, and the Heart to Heart program of Interface Children Family Services.

The project piqued the interest of students, teachers and staff.

"Everybody likes new socks. I mean, I like new socks," Enriquez said. "It's not something that's done a lot. I was looking for some different things, and people tend to buy into it if it's new and interesting."

Turning the gift of giving into a friendly competition between teachers and students, staff members and adult Optimists collected 589 pairs, while students brought in 582 pairs, a virtual draw.

As part of the fundraiser, Enriquez also collected 71 new toys for Heart to Heart. And her daughter, a chemist for Consolidated Labs of America in Chatsworth, was able to donate several cases of shampoo, conditioner and body wash to the four groups.

Students won several raffle prizes. Patricia Cruz, Sara Downey, Sharon Ganser, Linda Popovich and Casey Yang won Victoria's Secret bags; Riao ElKhoury won a mystery wallet with $50 inside; Cleo Domingo won movie tickets; and Samantha Harrel won a skateboard. Even the students who didn't win big prizes got something: Every student who participated received a small Snickers candy bar for each raffle ticket.

Enriquez is looking forward to January, when the Junior Optimists will begin collecting used DVDs for U.S. military troops.

The history teacher, who has taught at Monte Vista for nine years and in the district for 33, was grateful for the students' generosity.

"What was truly amazing is that many children that gave were children that didn't have a lot to give," Enriquez said. "They kind of opened up their hearts and made the effort to help someone less fortunate."