Adopt-A-Family is on and More Impactful Than Ever Before
10/26/2020 2:48:00 PM | Baseball, Athletics, Women's Lacrosse, Women's Soccer, Student Athlete, Features, Flight 45, Intellectual Development
By: Justin Lafleur, Lehigh Sports Communications
Lehigh Athletics' 22nd Annual Adopt-A-Family program is on.
It may not look the same amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, but will undoubtedly be even more meaningful and impactful than ever before.
And it's coming at a time the community needs it most.
"We had to think outside the box this year with Adopt-A-Family and because of these challenging times, we connected with the schools to emphasize how much we wanted to help these families this year," said Lehigh Athletics Public Relations Coordinator Roseann Corsi.
"Their first response [of need] was food."
The needs for food brings everything into perspective.
"This year has been difficult for everyone, especially for the families we're helping," said senior Eric Cichocki of baseball, who is also co-captain of C.O.A.C.H. (Community Outreach by Athletes who Care about Helping). "We often take for granted being able to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner every day, and these families are really struggling to do that. This year's Adopt-A-Family is extremely important just for this reason.
"Hopefully, we're able to ease some of this stress for these families."
For more than two decades, the Adopt-A-Family program has provided a holiday season for local underprivileged families. Student-athletes annually raise money, shop and wrap gifts for their "adopted" families, then present everything to them on a night before the holidays (typically in early December).
The pandemic has changed how the program looks in 2020, but hasn't changed the overall goal of making a difference.
"We're still fundraising, but not shopping for gifts," said Corsi. "We'll be giving the families gift cards for food and gift cards to area stores, so they can purchase items for the children."
The effort isn't going unnoticed.
"Lehigh Athletics is going above and beyond to make a difference in so many families' lives," said Kelsey Kalamar, second grade teacher at Freemansburg Elementary School (who is part of Adopt-A-Family for the first time). "Even though the gift cards may not be quite as personal, it's going to do wonders for our families. Our families will now be able to purchase items they truly need – not only for the holiday season, but also for everyday life."
Teachers and school employees can see first-hand the effect of the economic challenges on local students and their families.
"Our local families are some of the hardest-working people I know and they truly want what's best for their children," said Kalamar. "When the pandemic hit, it affected them in so many ways. It became an additional stressor because they value their jobs so much. Without this sense of stability, there is no way they would be able to provide for their families."
Kalamar was thrilled when Corsi reached out asking of Freemansburg's interest.
"I was so excited and was smiling ear-to-ear as I was reading Roseann's message asking if [Lehigh Athletics] could adopt six families," said Kalamar. "I couldn't wait to share the news with my principal and guidance counselor. Not many people know the dynamic of Freemansburg since we're tucked back in the borough, but most of our students live right in the surrounding area of Lehigh University in Lynfield.
"After discussing with our administration about possible families, I received another email from Roseann asking if Lehigh could adopt another family, making it a total of seven. Wow! To hear how generous these student-athletes, and the athletics department, are being in such a time of need is so special."
There are always so many layers to the Adopt-A-Family program, which makes it rewarding on so many levels. It's annually one of the favorite moments of the school year for the student-athletes.
No one would let the pandemic get in the way of making a difference.
"We've had to get creative during planning, but it was never really an option to give up on the event this year," said Cichocki. "We've learned a lot about making things work under difficult circumstances."
Lehigh Athletics' mission includes preparing student-athletes for a lifetime of leadership. An event like this is certainly doing just that.
It's a crash course in some serious, real-world issues which requires putting themselves in the shoes of all those involved.
"There are speed bumps of fundraising during a pandemic when other people are struggling financially or trying to be more frugal because of economic uncertainty," said women's soccer senior Ally Friedman, who is a member of the C.O.A.C.H. committee. "We've had to understand this and change the way we proposed the fundraiser and the way we approached donors, in order to be more empathetic and cognizant of everyone's situations."
"While adjusting to these new circumstances can be really challenging on numerous levels, we appreciate Lehigh's determination to keep the traditions of Adopt-a-Family alive, and value Lehigh's dedication to our families now more than ever," said Paige Hoffman, Community School Coordinator at Fountain Hill Elementary School. My hope is that those involved at Lehigh can, and will, still feel the joy of participating in this event and a connectedness with our community by doing so."
That connected feeling has certainly remained… and will continue. Whether or not the student-athletes and adopted families are able to meet virtually after the holidays (which is uncertain at the moment), Lehigh Athletics knows how much their efforts are helping.
That's rewarding enough.
"We've been doing this for 22 years," said Corsi. "It's a part of my life and part of the student-athletes' lives now too. With some people not having jobs and not having enough money, it's going to be as rewarding as ever.
"There's one thing to not have certain essentials. That bothers you, but when you hear the need for food, that's a whole different story."
That story is heartbreaking, so there was a consensus among the C.O.A.C.H. program to continue Adopt-A-Family and find a way.
Finding a way has been, and will continue to be, a theme throughout Adopt-A-Family 2020.
"By continuing on, it has made myself and all the student-athletes adapt to our environment and try to troubleshoot to best navigate the situation," said Friedman.
"It has invited conversation about the realities outside of Lehigh, or our student-athlete bubble," she continued. "It encourages students to appreciate not only how fortunate we are, but also think about ways to further help our surrounding community."
That help will lead to a feeling of security and safety, according to Kalamar.
"Adopt-A-Family will help our families know they can put an ample amount of food on the table, and even a few gifts under the tree this holiday season," she said. "Not only is Lehigh Athletics providing gift cards, but also blankets for the families. Having that extra sense of warmth this winter will be an even greater sense of comfort."
Lehigh Athletics will be providing literal and figurative comfort, showing local families how much the local student-athletes care for them and their well-being.
"I have said every year that it's better to give than receive," said Corsi. "That's what our student-athletes are feeling right now.
"These families need us now more than ever before."
"We are incredibly grateful for Lehigh's continued support of our students and families," said Hoffman.
"I just want to say, from the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone involved."
To learn more about this year's Adopt-A-Family program, please contact Roseann Corsi at rz00@lehigh.edu.
Lehigh Athletics' 22nd Annual Adopt-A-Family program is on.
It may not look the same amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, but will undoubtedly be even more meaningful and impactful than ever before.
And it's coming at a time the community needs it most.
"We had to think outside the box this year with Adopt-A-Family and because of these challenging times, we connected with the schools to emphasize how much we wanted to help these families this year," said Lehigh Athletics Public Relations Coordinator Roseann Corsi.
"Their first response [of need] was food."
The needs for food brings everything into perspective.
"This year has been difficult for everyone, especially for the families we're helping," said senior Eric Cichocki of baseball, who is also co-captain of C.O.A.C.H. (Community Outreach by Athletes who Care about Helping). "We often take for granted being able to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner every day, and these families are really struggling to do that. This year's Adopt-A-Family is extremely important just for this reason.
"Hopefully, we're able to ease some of this stress for these families."
For more than two decades, the Adopt-A-Family program has provided a holiday season for local underprivileged families. Student-athletes annually raise money, shop and wrap gifts for their "adopted" families, then present everything to them on a night before the holidays (typically in early December).
The pandemic has changed how the program looks in 2020, but hasn't changed the overall goal of making a difference.
"We're still fundraising, but not shopping for gifts," said Corsi. "We'll be giving the families gift cards for food and gift cards to area stores, so they can purchase items for the children."
The effort isn't going unnoticed.
"Lehigh Athletics is going above and beyond to make a difference in so many families' lives," said Kelsey Kalamar, second grade teacher at Freemansburg Elementary School (who is part of Adopt-A-Family for the first time). "Even though the gift cards may not be quite as personal, it's going to do wonders for our families. Our families will now be able to purchase items they truly need – not only for the holiday season, but also for everyday life."
Teachers and school employees can see first-hand the effect of the economic challenges on local students and their families.
"Our local families are some of the hardest-working people I know and they truly want what's best for their children," said Kalamar. "When the pandemic hit, it affected them in so many ways. It became an additional stressor because they value their jobs so much. Without this sense of stability, there is no way they would be able to provide for their families."
Kalamar was thrilled when Corsi reached out asking of Freemansburg's interest.
"I was so excited and was smiling ear-to-ear as I was reading Roseann's message asking if [Lehigh Athletics] could adopt six families," said Kalamar. "I couldn't wait to share the news with my principal and guidance counselor. Not many people know the dynamic of Freemansburg since we're tucked back in the borough, but most of our students live right in the surrounding area of Lehigh University in Lynfield.
"After discussing with our administration about possible families, I received another email from Roseann asking if Lehigh could adopt another family, making it a total of seven. Wow! To hear how generous these student-athletes, and the athletics department, are being in such a time of need is so special."
There are always so many layers to the Adopt-A-Family program, which makes it rewarding on so many levels. It's annually one of the favorite moments of the school year for the student-athletes.
No one would let the pandemic get in the way of making a difference.
"We've had to get creative during planning, but it was never really an option to give up on the event this year," said Cichocki. "We've learned a lot about making things work under difficult circumstances."
Lehigh Athletics' mission includes preparing student-athletes for a lifetime of leadership. An event like this is certainly doing just that.
It's a crash course in some serious, real-world issues which requires putting themselves in the shoes of all those involved.
"There are speed bumps of fundraising during a pandemic when other people are struggling financially or trying to be more frugal because of economic uncertainty," said women's soccer senior Ally Friedman, who is a member of the C.O.A.C.H. committee. "We've had to understand this and change the way we proposed the fundraiser and the way we approached donors, in order to be more empathetic and cognizant of everyone's situations."
"While adjusting to these new circumstances can be really challenging on numerous levels, we appreciate Lehigh's determination to keep the traditions of Adopt-a-Family alive, and value Lehigh's dedication to our families now more than ever," said Paige Hoffman, Community School Coordinator at Fountain Hill Elementary School. My hope is that those involved at Lehigh can, and will, still feel the joy of participating in this event and a connectedness with our community by doing so."
That connected feeling has certainly remained… and will continue. Whether or not the student-athletes and adopted families are able to meet virtually after the holidays (which is uncertain at the moment), Lehigh Athletics knows how much their efforts are helping.
That's rewarding enough.
"We've been doing this for 22 years," said Corsi. "It's a part of my life and part of the student-athletes' lives now too. With some people not having jobs and not having enough money, it's going to be as rewarding as ever.
"There's one thing to not have certain essentials. That bothers you, but when you hear the need for food, that's a whole different story."
That story is heartbreaking, so there was a consensus among the C.O.A.C.H. program to continue Adopt-A-Family and find a way.
Finding a way has been, and will continue to be, a theme throughout Adopt-A-Family 2020.
"By continuing on, it has made myself and all the student-athletes adapt to our environment and try to troubleshoot to best navigate the situation," said Friedman.
"It has invited conversation about the realities outside of Lehigh, or our student-athlete bubble," she continued. "It encourages students to appreciate not only how fortunate we are, but also think about ways to further help our surrounding community."
That help will lead to a feeling of security and safety, according to Kalamar.
"Adopt-A-Family will help our families know they can put an ample amount of food on the table, and even a few gifts under the tree this holiday season," she said. "Not only is Lehigh Athletics providing gift cards, but also blankets for the families. Having that extra sense of warmth this winter will be an even greater sense of comfort."
Lehigh Athletics will be providing literal and figurative comfort, showing local families how much the local student-athletes care for them and their well-being.
"I have said every year that it's better to give than receive," said Corsi. "That's what our student-athletes are feeling right now.
"These families need us now more than ever before."
"We are incredibly grateful for Lehigh's continued support of our students and families," said Hoffman.
"I just want to say, from the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone involved."
To learn more about this year's Adopt-A-Family program, please contact Roseann Corsi at rz00@lehigh.edu.
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