Skidmore Cares kicks off 14th season of giving to neighbors in need

by Sara Miga '08

For the 14th consecutive year, faculty and staff at Skidmore College are joining together through the College’s Skidmore Cares program to assist those in need in Saratoga County.

Since the community service program was begun in 2006 by Skidmore President Philip A. Glotzbach and Marie Glotzbach, the Skidmore community has donated more than $108,000 in monetary gifts, more than 26,000 food items and nearly 12,000 school supplies items to nonprofit agencies throughout Saratoga County.

Approximately 125 Skidmore faculty and staff members attended a kickoff luncheon on Wednesday, Oct. 30, to mark the beginning of the campus donation effort.

“What Skidmore Cares is all about is an opportunity for the Skidmore community to come together and to have a moment of good fellowship and for all of us to give — and give back — to the larger community,” Glotzbach said. “It’s a time of gathering. It’s a time of celebration of the season. And we are very happy to combine that with this opportunity for giving.”

Representatives from several Saratoga-based community service agencies attended the luncheon.

The donations made by the Skidmore community will be distributed to 10 participating community service agencies and nonprofit organizations including Corinth Central School District, Franklin Community Center, Latino Community Advocacy Program, Mary’s Haven, Salvation Army, Saratoga Center for the Family, Saratoga County Economic Opportunity Council, the Saratoga Springs City School District PATHS program, Shelters of Saratoga and Wellspring.

“The power of watching community leaders and generous Skidmore volunteers come together with a common desire to make Saratoga a better place is inspirational and beautiful,” said Marie Glotzbach, who has helped spearhead Skidmore Cares for the past 14 years.

The program culminates on Dec. 6 with an event for members of the Skidmore community at Scribner House, the president’s residence. During the event, contributions are collected in a Skidmore Cares sleigh. Afterward, volunteers, who include both students and employees, sort donations, load trucks and deliver the goods to participating agencies.

“We’ve worked very hard in our time at Skidmore to make it very evident to the City of Saratoga Springs and to the larger region that Skidmore is a good neighbor,” President Glotzbach said. “We have been able, by working with local agencies and school systems, to provide some very concrete aid to organizations that help people in need in our area.”