Just over 100 students and staff members turned out for annual Sock Fight.
Just over 100 students, faculty and staff from the School of Dentistry took part in what is fast becoming an annual Sock Fight tradition, Oct. 22.
The School of Dentistry collected 510 pairs of socks to donate to the Boyle McCauley Health Centre in support of the Student Health Initiative for the Needs of Edmonton (SHINE) operated out of the Centre's Dental Clinic.
SHINE is a student-run clinic in the inner city providing free dental care to individuals. SHINE clinics run every Saturday and the team consists of students from each of the four-years of the dentistry program and a preceptor. The preceptor is a licensed dentist from the community who volunteers their time.
"Last year, after hearing a call out on the radio for donations of socks, dental students involved with SHINE decided to have a sock drive to help out those in need in our community," says Sherri Kessels, academic teaching services team lead and this year's organizer of the event. "We wanted to do the sock drive again and we decided to incorporate a sock fight into the initiative this time. We've also invited the entire department to participate."
For third-year dental student and co-chair of the SHINE program Lindsay Orsen having student participate in the sock fight is a great way to build community and distress all at the same time.
"The socks provide us with something to give out to our patients as well," says Orsen. "But the main reason for collecting the socks is to raise awareness of the dental needs around inner city residents."
Along with the socks, the School will also be donating a variety of children's winter accessories. Socks may be small, but the act of helping someone is not.
View our complete Photo Gallery