What’s better than holiday cookies and ugly sweaters? Spreading a little joy to families who need it most.
Springfield College is offering a meaningful way to give back and share the spirit of the season through its annual Adopt-A-Family program. For more than 20 years, the college’s Office of Spiritual Life has partnered with Open Pantry Community Services to brighten the holidays for families in need.
The program specifically supports families in Open Pantry’s Young Parent Living Program (YPLP), which provides support for teenage mothers and their children. The YPLP provides a safe place to live while addressing the challenges of poverty, homelessness and parenting.
“The program was designed with the humanics philosophy, and because it’s related to the winter holiday, it was always seen as a way of partnering with a great community organization,” said David McMahon, the Director of Spiritual Life. “What the program does is help them get through school, help them with professional development and job training and equip them so that they can be successful in making a living, but also successful in parenting and teaching parenting skills.”
Adopt-A-Family allows departments, clubs, sports teams and individuals on campus to sponsor a family by purchasing and wrapping gifts tailored to their specific needs and wishes. Items range from practical necessities like clothes and winter gear to fun gifts like toys and games. Each family provides a wish list, and sponsors work within their budget to fulfill it.
“In our Google Form, we have offices or individuals sign up and report a budget they can provide,” said Yireliz Valentin, a Graduate Associate in the Office of Spiritual Life. “The families also get a form from the Open Pantry asking them about what their clothing sizes are, what their interests are, the toys that they would like or specifically request and then I formulate that and match it with the budget from the sponsors.”
For some, participating in Adopt-A-Family has become a personal holiday tradition.
“I’ve been working at Springfield College for 10 years, and all 10 years that I’ve been working here, I have participated in the Adopt-A-Family program,” said Rebecca Kalagher, the Director of Community Standards. “I love the program because we give back to the community, and to me, the holidays are all about kids, and this program specifically connects our college to kids in the community.”
Although the registration deadline for this year’s program has already passed, those who signed up are asked to donate new, high-quality items and to wrap their gifts before bringing them in. Wrapped gifts can be dropped off at the Spiritual Life Center in the Campus Union or picked up directly on campus.
For the Springfield College community, the Adopt-A-Family program embodies the college’s mission of service.
Adopt-A-Family is a lifeline for families in the YPLP, during what can be an emotionally and financially challenging time of year. Beyond the material gifts, it’s a source of hope and joy.
“The holidays are a time where everyone has different feelings about it,” Valentin said. “Taking the time out of your own life to support other people and try to provide some help towards another family makes you feel good, and it puts it into perspective that other people have their own struggles. It kind of just grounds you in a sense of giving you perspective.”
Photo courtesy of Springfield College Flickr