Rutgers Against Hunger's 2011 Adopt-a-Family Campaign

October 24, 2011

Members of the Rutgers Community:

I am pleased to announce the official start of the third annual Adopt-a-Family campaign sponsored by Rutgers Against Hunger (RAH). Since 2009, your generosity has enabled us to sponsor over 300 New Jersey families struggling with hunger and poverty, giving them a brighter holiday season. It has been a marvelous response in the Rutgers spirit of service, and I hope our university community will again participate in this worthwhile project.

As we embark on this third year of the Adopt-a-Family program, there is a need far greater than in years past. Currently, more than 1 million New Jersey residents do not always know where their next meal will come from, let alone how they will stay warm through the cold winter months or celebrate this year's holiday season.

Administrative and academic departments are encouraged to participate in this year's program by adopting a family, or several families, from one of 15 participating social service agencies. There are also
opportunities for university student clubs and organizations to get involved by adopting an agency. Families will be matched with sponsoring departments beginning immediately. Sponsoring departments will receive a family profile form that will help identify the family and their specific needs for this holiday season.

Donations typically include nonperishable foods and other needed items, such as toiletries, baby supplies, and clothing items; however, it is up to you and your group to decide how much of the list you fulfill. Any level of support is greatly appreciated.

Participation is easy:

  • If you and/or your department are interested in volunteering for this program, we ask that one person within your department or group of coworkers serve as the representative and coordinate the group's participation with Rutgers Against Hunger staff.
  • Your representative should contact Rutgers Against Hunger as soon as possible (contact information below).
  • Rutgers Against Hunger will then provide your group with information on the family you will support, their holiday wish list, and logistics on how to fulfill the program.
  • To ensure that we can manage all aspects of this program and deliver the gifts by the deadlines requested by the agencies, we must confirm our volunteer participants by Friday, November 4.

Hunger and poverty continue to cause great suffering in our state, particularly for families with children and people on fixed incomes. I hope you will consider taking part in the Adopt-a-Family program by
providing your service, generosity, and compassion to those in need.

To sign up for a family, please contact a member of the Rutgers Against Hunger team:

Liz Fabics
School of Social Work, Class of 2012
RAH Intern
rah@oldqueens.rutgers.edu

Kat Decker
RAH Program Coordinator
848-932-2460
kdecker@oldqueens.rutgers.edu

Thank you for your continued support of Rutgers Against Hunger.

Richard L. McCormick
President
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey