SUNY Cortland Students 'Adopt' Local Families

12/02/2013 

More than 20 local families will receive presents this holiday season, thanks to SUNY Cortland’s Adopt-A-Family drive.

The annual event, now in its eighth year and organized by the College’s Residence Life and Housing Office, is expected to bring in a record amount of gifts — more than $7,300 worth — in 2013. Residence hall directors and resident assistants will wrap enough presents for 21 area families Wednesday, Dec. 4, at the Lynne Parks ’68 SUNY Cortland Alumni House.

Each family includes between three and six children who have a made a list of necessities, such as coats and gloves, along with a few items for pleasure, such as toys and sports equipment. Those families were recommended by the Bridges for Kids program run through the YWCA in Cortland.

The staffs in all 17 of SUNY Cortland’s residence halls collected funds since the beginning of the academic year — taking in loose change, redeeming bottles and cans, and accepting small donations from students.

Resident assistants, for instance, asked for $1 from students who were locked out of their rooms. It wasn’t a mandatory fee, and many residents actually opted to give more.

In 2012, $7,300 was raised for the Adopt-A-Family drive.

“I can safely say that we will beat last year’s total of $7,300,” said Cynthia Lake, the College’s associate director of residence life and housing.

The exact amount will be known at the Wednesday gift-wrapping event.