For Immediate Release —December 15, 2008
Contact:
David Irwin
Media Relations Manager
(585) 245-5516
irwin@geneseo.edu

SUNY Geneseo Responds Generously to Holiday Adopt-A-Family Program

GENESEO, N.Y. – A record number of families in Livingston County will benefit this year from the State University of New York at Geneseo’s Adopt-A-Family program, which ensures holiday gifts for those who otherwise would go without.   According to Kay Fly, the college’s coordinator of volunteerism and service learning, 34 families are receiving gift packages assembled by student groups and college departments.  The number is almost triple the number of families served when the program started in 1990.

“Volunteerism and commitment to community have always been important at Geneseo and we are very fortunate to have such a large number of students involved in this program with support from staff and faculty,” said Fly.  “It will make a big difference in the lives of those living on a shoestring in Livingston County, especially in a slumping economy.”

The Livingston County Head Start Program and Teenage Services Act Program (TASA) provided names of needy families with gift requests and SUNY students and college departments bought and wrapped the gifts, which Head Start and TASA representatives are delivering to the families they serve. 

Fly said Geneseo students also have been responding to the increasing need at the Geneseo/Groveland Emergency Food Pantry. 

“Most food pantries in the area are hurting but the Livingston County pantry is overflowing thanks to the overwhelming response by Geneseo students to keep it stocked,” said Fly.  “It’s very heartening to see such involvement.”