Participating in Adopt-A-Family, the Walker School of Business’s American Management Association (AMA) club at Piedmont College “adopted” the Rivera family in order to provide them with a joyful Christmas season in 2020.
The campus ministry at Piedmont College hosts the Adopt-A-Family fundraiser annually around the end of November. It had to be pushed up this year due to the early release of Piedmont students. Unfortunately, decrease risks they had to downsize as well – providing for half as many families as they normally do. Many faculty donate gifts for families to help provide a bountiful Christmas for local children in Demorest, Georgia, including Dr. Dale Van Cantfort. AMA decided to raise the funds by asking students to donate and be entered into a gift card raffle. AMA had a donation table set up for three days where students where also able to sign a giant Christmas card (designed by Anya Olsen and Jade Edwards) on Nov. 6, 8 and 9. In addition to student-raised funds, AMA got a generous donation from Temperance Coffee House and nearly reached their goal of 200 dollars.
Jade Edwards, Madison Voshall and Professor Sales went to Walmart to shop for the Rivera family.
Addressed to the Rivera children, Brian, Yennifer, and Lelia, the giant Christmas card was signed by each student that donated and any passersby who felt like giving some holiday cheer to the Rivera family. AMA had the card and donation area set up in the commons Nov. 6, 8 and 9.After communicating with Ms. Rivera, Jade Edwards reviewed the Christmas wish list with Madison Voshall. Before heading into the store, Jade Edwards looked up the gifts online to check if they were in stock and ensure there was enough money budgeted to cover all the costs. On Nov. 19, Madison Voshall (left), Jade Edwards (right) and Professor Sales (not pictured, hiding behind the aisle on the right) embarked on their Walmart mission to provide for the Rivera children.Over estimating the number of things they were going to buy, Sales grabbed three shopping carts. Doing their best to guess the correct size hoodie for the 12 year-old daughter, Edwards and Voshall discuss which hoody is the best gift.Filling up their cart, Voshall, Edwards and Sales worked the toy section aisle by aisle to fulfill the children’s Christmas lists.Attempting to get a more grown-up necklace for the oldest girl, Voshall and Edwards discuss which necklace would be best. With plenty of donations available, they quit arguing and settled on purchasing both necklaces. Not only filled with presents, the Sales decided to give them a gingerbread house kit that they could do as a family, as well as gift wrapping supplies. After being well under budget, Sales decided to give the remainder of their funds to Revered Tim to help provide for more families.Dividing the gifts up by child in the Walmart parking lot, Sales, Voshall and Edwards put the gifts into large trash bags to be taken to the Reverend’s office.More treasure than trash, Reverend Tim and his employees have to ensure that each bag is properly labeled upon delivery. They may not be Santa’s red velvet bag, but these trash bags are bringing Christmas spirit into the homes of many Demorest families.Most families are “adopted” by a single faculty member, AMA decided to do it a little differently and go above and beyond by raising 190 dollars. Unfortunately, only 12 families are receiving donations this year from Piedmont campus ministries, pre-COVID-19, they would donate to nearly 20 families.
Piedmont Photojournalists 