The 16th annual SUNY Orange Adopt-a-Family campaign was once again a success as the generosity of the College community provided over $1,399 of gifts and grocery support for 28 families- a total of 87 individuals- during this holiday season.
Since 2003, college faculty, staff and students have been working with local non-profit organizations to adopt less-fortunate families during the holidays. Over that 16-year period, SUNY Orange’s Adopt-a-Family program has helped a total of 2,922 individuals in 814 families.
Contributions and donations this year were provided by SUNY Orange employees and student clubs. Gifts and groceries this season were distributed to local schools and organizations.
In addition to the work with Adopt-a-Family, members of the SUNY Orange Newburgh Criminal Justice Club sponsored a Used Winter Clothing Drive throughout the months of October and November.
The club members, with the aid of club co-advisors Timothy Zeszutek and Joanne Penzato, collected used “gently worn” winter clothing items from students, staff and faculty, including coats, jackets, winter hats, scarves, gloves, winter boots, and sweatshirts/sweaters. They also created drop-off boxes for clothing donations at both the Middletown and Newburgh Campuses.
On Thursday, December 5 all of the sorted and packaged items, 25 bags of clothing in all, were disseminated to the local Newburgh Community, via the neighboring Ebeneezer Baptist Church.
Across SUNY, students, faculty and administration alike are coming together to in the spirit of charity and togetherness. 30 Days of Giving is our annual tradition, which starts on Thanksgiving every year, where we reflect on efforts of the past year and highlight some of the selfless acts of that members of the SUNY community are leading. Stay tuned for more.
