Elmira College Athletes Adopt-A-Family, Make Christmas Special for Local Family
Elmira, NY -- The Elmira College Student-Athlete Advisory Board (SAAB) helped make this Christmas a very special one for a local Elmira family by participating in Catholic Charities of Chemung-Schuyler Counties, Adopt-A-Family program.
"Each year SAAB has had the ability to become involved with the Elmira community and Adopt-A-Family through Catholic Charities has provided the perfect opportunity to do so" said SAAB President
Mollie Hamilton '15.
Hamilton, along with several other members of 11 Elmira College athletic teams, participated in this year's Adopt-A-Family program, including women's cross country, women's golf, men's golf, men's ice hockey, women's lacrosse, field hockey, women's tennis, men's tennis, women's basketball, and women's soccer
With such a large group of participants, Elmira was assigned to shop for a family of seven. After raising money within their own teams, members of Elmira's athletic teams then took to the stores to purchase items for family members that were assigned to their specific team. Along with the purchased gifts, Elmira also collected gifts from a toy drive EC held during the Home for the Holidays downtown event at the First Arena.
After all the gifts were collected and purchased, the teams got together for a "wrapping party" to wrap and decorate all the gifts for the family of seven. The gifts were then delivered by a pair of EC student-athletes to Catholic Charities for distribution, providing a much needed contribution to a family in need in the Southern Tier.
"This year, the Elmira College athletic teams were very supportive this holiday season and was overwhelming successful in helping provide a Christmas for a family in need" said Hamilton. "Thank you to all EC athletics teams, coaches, and the EC athletic department for their assistance and participation in this event."
About Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) is the national office for Catholic Charities agencies nationwide. Catholic Charities USA's members provide help and create hope for millions of people a year, regardless of their religious, social, or economic background. CCUSA provides leadership and support for the work of local agencies in their efforts to reduce poverty, support families, and empower communities. CCUSA was founded in 1910 on the campus of Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. as the National Conference of Catholic Charities. For more than 100 years, CCUSA has guided and supported the vast network of Catholic Charities agencies nationwide in a common mission to serve, advocate, and convene.