Skidmore Cares 2008 delivers the goods

Skidmore has delivered a total of 82 boxes of food to four local food pantries as the result of this year’s Skidmore Cares program. The four beneficiaries of the food drive are the Saratoga County Economic Opportunity Council, Franklin Community Center, Salvation Army and Shelters of Saratoga. In addition, the program raised $550 in cash, which has been donated to Shelters of Saratoga for the purchase of fresh vegetables and meats.

Groupings of employees and students, each headed by campus representatives, or “cheerleaders,” were assigned specific food items and goals. All told, some 1,200 food items were collected.

“Clearly the demand on food pantries has risen during the last several months,” said Michelle Hubbs, Skidmore’s director of community service programs. “These agencies reached out to the community for food donations as early as the fall, as the economy worsened. Donations like the ones from Skidmore Cares are a crucial shot in the arm for these programs.”

As in past years, Skidmore Cares 2008 also collected books for young readers. This year the books are being donated to Head Start; Shelters of Saratoga; and Wait House, a shelter for homeless youth in Glens Falls. Some of the books will be given to the Children's Stories Project, a program that will involve Skidmore students working with inmates at the Mount McGregor Correctional Facility. The students will assist in the production of videotapes of inmates reading selected books for their children. Both the book and the video will be sent to the child.

Skidmore Cares, now in its third year, was launched by Phil and Marie Glotzbach to enhance the meaning of the annual campus holiday gathering at Scribner House. Faculty, staff and their families dropped off their donations in a sleigh on the front yard when they attended the open house on Sunday, December 14. For those unable to attend the event, the sleigh was available for “drive-by” donations on the Friday and Saturday prior to the open house.

The student component of the program was organized by the Student Athletic Committee with assistance from Benef-Action. The student drive included an opportunity to donate “virtual food” through cash donations.

“Skidmore Cares provides an opportunity for the Skidmore community to collectively make a contribution to Saratoga Springs. It increases the meaningfulness of gathering together in the spirit of the season,” said Marie Glotzbach, who spearheads the program. “We hope our efforts will lighten the load for many local families.”

Read related story: Skidmore Cares Begins Third Year of Community Engagement

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2008 Food Assigments and Representatives