Skidmore community rallies to support local families and agencies
For the 15th consecutive year, the Skidmore College community has come together to assist local residents and families through the Skidmore Cares community service program.
This year, Skidmore faculty, staff and students donated nearly 3,000 food items and more than 3,400 school supplies and personal care items — including 2,130 face masks — for Saratoga County community organizations. In addition, monetary donations to Skidmore Cares and community agencies totaled nearly $800.
To help ensure the health and safety of all involved, the annual campus-wide event was modified this year, encouraging individuals to drop off donations at outdoor locations on campus in early November.
Skidmore employees organized and delivered the contributions to 10 local community service agencies: Shelters of Saratoga, Franklin Community Center, Mary's Haven, Saratoga Economic Opportunity Council, Wellspring, Corinth Central School District, Saratoga Springs City School District PATHS, the Latino Advocacy Program, the Salvation Army and Saratoga Center for the Family.
Student volunteers helped staff a Skidmore Cares collection table outside of Surrey-Williamson Inn during the week of Nov. 9. This year's donation collection process was modified for the sake of health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The donations come at a critical time for local residents and agencies facing challenges created or intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kari Cushing, executive director of Franklin Community Center, stressed that there is real need in the Saratoga Springs area. “COVID-19 has caused a big influx in the number of people who are relying on our services,” she said. “As of September, we have had 444 new families visit our food pantry. These are families who have never before had to use our services and are now relying on our food pantry to keep their families fed. In addition, we are serving much larger families than we historically have due to adult children moving back in with their parents.
Barbara Reyes-Conner, wife of Skidmore President Marc C. Conner, said it was an honor to join in this year’s effort for the first time.
“It was wonderful to get involved with the Skidmore and Saratoga Springs community on this project,” Reyes-Conner said. “The generosity displayed during this time of need was evident, and we really enjoyed the partnership.”
Founded in 2006, Skidmore Cares has now raised more than $122,000 for community causes and distributed nearly 60,000 food, personal care and school supplies items.
“The continued success of Skidmore Cares is a testament to the generosity of the entire Skidmore community and shows the meaningful impact we can make when we join together in shared purpose,” said President Conner. “I am proud that we were once again able to share hope and possibility with those most in need in our community.”
