Many families may worry about the cost of providing Christmas gifts for the children or even providing food to eat on Christmas day. Adopt a Family, an annual fundraiser provides donations to help alleviate that concern and make the holiday season a little brighter. According to the WelfareInfo website, the poverty rate in Lancaster, Ohio, is 15.4 as of 2023. The rate is 22.22% higher than the US average. It is estimated that at least six thousand people are homeless in Lancaster, Ohio.
Every year the Lancaster High School Student Council organizes Adopt a Family. The students work with Fairfield County Jobs and Family Services to raise money for families in need. There is a holiday drive, the goal is to share the holiday cheer. LHS Intervention Specialist Allison Saulnier is the current adviser of the Student Council. She took over from Jennifer Etherington who began this fundraiser years ago.
Thirteen clubs and organizations signed up for Adopt a Family including Book Club, FFA, National Art Honor Society, Spanish Club, Baseball, High School Staff, Latin Club, French Club, Miss Barnett’s science classes, Interact Club, Skills USA, Yearbook, and First Priority. Each club is responsible for providing funding for the project.
“Each organization interested in participating will receive a personalized wish list for the family assigned to ‘adopt’ for this holiday season. The children receiving the presents have submitted a wish list for items they would love to receive on Christmas morning,” said Saulnier.
Sauliner said that all clubs have different ways of contributing to gift-giving.
“Several of the participants will be providing specific items for every single child we have adopted; NAHS donates personalized ornaments for each child and Book Club donates a book for every child,” said Saulnier
The LHS Spanish club has adopted two children this year. They raised money through a change war. Each of the Spanish classes donated money, and the class with the most money was promised a milk and cookie party.
LHS Spanish teacher Jennifer Spencer talked about her emotions and the impact the fundraiser brings to all.
“I am incredibly proud of my students for contributing to this project. They are making a difference in their local community,” said Spencer.
For the last six years, LHS math teacher Lindsay Swartz has organized the staff donations and goes shopping for gifts for the children. Swartz said it has become a meaningful tradition.
“I love it. I think that Christmas is a time of giving and caring and you know. I think that all the clubs and staff that contribute are proud and happy to do so,” stated Swartz.
Not only are staff members getting involved, but students are too.
LHS senior and president of the Interact club, Addison England said that they bought toys and clothes for a family they adopted. She shared her thoughts of gratitude and said she was impressed by the number of people in and out of LHS that were willing to support the less fortunate.
“This truly shows what Christmas is all about. Giving back to those in need will forever mean so much to me,” she said.
“To be able to go out and shop is a fun event for me, but it is even better leaving and knowing that these families we are shopping for are going to wake up Christmas morning and have presents to open. I love the organization and I love even more that parents who thought they would not be able to get gifts for their children are now going to be relieved from that feeling and are able to enjoy Christmas,” said England.
