Skidmore Cares unites campus in effort to help community

As the holidays approach and the fall semester wraps up at Skidmore College, students, faculty, and staff are making a concerted effort to help those in need in the surrounding communities.

The lead program in this effort is Skidmore Cares, an annual campus-wide initiative launched in 2006 bySkidmore President Philip A. Glotzbach and his wife, Marie. Thisyear the program collected food, toiletries, school supplies, and money to assist local service agencies at a time when many area families are feeling the economic pinch.

As Skidmore students and staff set out on Monday morning, Dec. 12, to deliver the donations, the tally was impressive: 1,740 food items, over 400 toiletry items, and boxes brimming with school supplies. In addition, Skidmore Cares raised more than $12,000 for local assistance.

Three food banks are beneficiaries of this year's food drive: Saratoga County Economic Opportunity Council, the Franklin Community Center, and the Salvation Army. 

The school supplies were delivered to the Corinth School District; the Latino Advocacy Program of the Saratoga County Equal Opportunity Program; and the Saratoga Springs School District PATHS program (Promoting Academics for Temporarily Housed Students). The PATHS program also received a donation of toiletries from Skidmore Cares.

"In these tough economic times, the number of students in temporary housing continues to rise, yet we no longer have the grant funding to assist them," said Diane Davis, student advocate and homeless education liaison for the Saratoga Springs School District. "The generous donations from Skidmore Cares help us provide these families with basic necessities."

Cash donations are going toDomestic Violence and Rape Crisis Services of Saratoga County;Mary's Haven, a local Hospice home; ASPIRe N.Y. (Autism Spectrum Peer Integration & Recreation of New York); the Salvation Army; and the Schoharie County Community Action Program.

Said Marie Glotzbach, who spearheads Skidmore Cares, "This year we have reached out to communities in Schoharie County because they suffered such devastation from Hurricane Irene.We decided that it was important for the Skidmore community to do what we could."

The Skidmore Cares fundraising effort was boosted by proceeds from "Beatlemore Skidmania," the college's annual concert of Beatle music performed by students, faculty, and staff. The two sold-out concerts, held in November, were organized by students in the Beatles seminar taught by Gordon Thompson, professor of music.

The Glotzbachs initiated Skidmore Cares six years ago to enhance the meaning of the annual campus holiday open house at Scribner House, the president's home.Faculty, staff, and their families drop off donations in a sleigh on the front yard of Scribner House when they attend the gathering, which this year was held on Sunday, Dec. 11. For those unable to attend the event, the sleigh was available for "drive-by" donations throughout the weekend.The collection effort is coordinated by campus "cheerleaders" in each division of the college.

"Skidmore Cares builds on the college's heritage of being a good neighbor and encourages participation in a program that makes a contribution to the greater Saratoga Springs region," said Marie Glotzbach. "It is especially important to us to give back to our community during these difficult economic times."

Skidmore's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee organized the student component of the drive, which focused on the collection of food and cash within the residence halls.

Please click here for more information on Skidmore Cares.