SUNY Plattsburgh has once again teamed up with Clinton County Social Services to make the holidays a little better through its Adopt-a-Friend program.
Students, faculty, and staff were able to “adopt” 125 children and families in need this year as in previous years, even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Katie Gadway, assistant in the Center for Student Involvement.
The program began more than two decades ago as part of the Project HELP initiative. The county supplies wish lists, which are distributed to participants on campus who fulfill those wishes, purchasing toys, clothing, and other necessities.
“Typically the majority of our lists are swept up by the Campus Housing and Community Living team,” Gadway said. With the smaller number of on-campus students this semester, the community living team could only fulfill 55 wish lists, she said.
In addition, the program raised enough cash to donate $1,000 in food vouchers and for the purchase of any gifts left on individual wish lists.
Susan Wright, supervisor, children services division of the Clinton County Department of Social Services, said that Adopt-a-Friend participants “should be proud for their contribution through this program, which consistently supports families in the community who are struggling to provide Christmas to their family.”
“In this year of great economic uncertainty, your generosity has been a thoughtful and needed gift to our community,” she said. “This year especially, with both economic and social uncertainty that so many individuals are experiencing, it has been a wonderful and needed gift.”
