ASMSU’s Freshman Class Council wanted to do something different this year.
Hence the reason members agreed to organize “Adopt-a-Child,” a new program established within ASMSU, the university’s undergraduate student government.
“We started the year thinking of something to do that would be different from any other class,” said Sarah Kane, a council representative and a member of its community service committee.
In the newly founded program, the council has sent letters to more than 60 local businesses asking for donations of money and toys to ensure a happy holiday for several underprivileged children in the East Lansing area.
“We sent letters to anyone we thought would be interested,” Kane said.
This is the first year ASMSU has attempted such a program, and one representative said he thinks it’s about time the student government do so.
“I think ASMSU needs to do things for the community and give things back to the children,” said Quinn Wright, a College of Communication Arts and Sciences representative on the Student Assembly.
Wright built a foundation of the idea from a similar program - which also carries the same name - he participated in during his senior year at Ferndale High School in Ferndale, Mich.
“It’s a great program, so I thought, ‘Why not?’” Wright said. The “Adopt-a-Child” program instituted at Ferndale for the past 15 years was also organized by the school’s student government.
While it is still undetermined how many children will be selected by ASMSU - Wright estimates about six to eight - the council plans on having them selected by Nov. 17, just before Thanksgiving.
The group plans on searching at shelters as well as retreats to find children to “adopt,” but no exact criteria has been established for selection.
“Basically, they have to be low-income people who can’t afford these necessities,” Wright said.
Money will be taken out of ASMSU accounts to help provide some of the funding.
The council and ASMSU will also accept the financial assistance of anyone interested in contributing.
“We hope that people will respond,” Kane said.
For more information about “Adopt-a-Child,” contact Quinn Wright at (517) 355-8266.
