LAFAYETTE, LA. (AP) - With schools closed across Louisiana and the country due to COVID-19, seniors’ final semesters are not turning out like they thought.
So an Acadiana mom started a Facebook group with a simple post about her graduating senior son, Seth. She wanted to recognize him and his big brother, Blake, who is graduating from college, along with everyone else in their shoes.
“I thought, ‘What’s something that we can do to help kids have the best end of their senior year they can have?‘” Amanda Menard Hunt said.
The “Greater Acadiana Area Adopt A Senior 2020″ group was born April 13. Ten days later it has more than 16,000 members, and about 2,000 high school and college graduates have been “adopted.”
People from across the community and beyond have showered their adoptee with little gifts, from their favorite snacks to T-shirts and gift cards.
Many of them know each other; some don’t. They’re sending envelopes in the mail and leaving baskets of goodies on doorsteps.
“I didn’t expect it to grow like it did, but I love it,” Hunt said. “The outpouring of positivity is insane.”
‘IT’S AN OUTPOURING OF LOVE’
It’s grown into a movement, with local seniors adopting each other and more states following Hunt’s lead. She’s created about 12 similar groups for other states.
Josepha Morgan, a fellow Ovey Comeaux High wrestling mom in Lafayette, helps Hunt manage it, using two laptops and two cell phones to execute Hunt’s vision of showing seniors love during this time.
“The best part for me is to see posts of kids holding their goodies - to see how it’s lifting these kids,” Morgan said. “I’m smiling, dancing. I get the goosebumps. It feels so good.”
Melanna Sam, a senior at Tuerlings Catholic High School in Lafayette, was sent a link to the public Facebook group and joined not expecting much. She’s been pleasantly surprised.
“It’s an outpouring of love,” Sam said. “It means a lot that people who don’t know you can support you.”
And she and her family have returned the favor, adopting other seniors and delivering baskets themselves.
“On behalf of all high school seniors, I want to say thank you,” Sam said.
’IT’S ABOUT BEING RECOGNIZED’
Kim and Jason Willis adopted Sam and several others in the Facebook group. As parents of a senior themselves, they understand what the kids are feeling right now.
“We all know right now they weren’t able to finish school with friends,” Kim Willis said. “They missed their prom, they miss their friends and they’ll probably miss walking on stage.”
Her son, Javian Willis, is a a senior at Catholic High School in New Iberia. His basket was full of his favorite candies, Powerade and chips.
“His candies are all gone already,” his mom said with a laugh.
She appreciates this program because it gives her son and other seniors something to look forward to and lets them know someone cares, Willis said.
“We go down the page, and there’s no senior left unadopted,” Willis said. “We’re not forgetting about kids graduating.”
As Morgan explained, it’s not about the money or gifts.
“It’s about being recognized and appreciating what they’ve done,” Morgan said. “When someone other than Mom and Dad recognize you, it says so much more.”
The message has been received, with high school and college seniors from across Acadiana sharing thank you notes in the group.
“Your words of encouragement, advice, cards and gifts have all made me feel so very special,” said Hailey Gauthier, a graduating senior at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. “Thanks from the bottom of this Ragin Cajuns heart!!!”
IT ‘BOUGHT JOY BACK TO OUR HOME’
Heather Steven said she had no idea this program would be such a blessing when she signed up her daughter Meagan Zehner, a senior at Acadiana High School in Lafayette.
“This program has brought joy back to our home!” Steven said. “Every kind word and gift she receives makes her feel loved and acknowledges all of the hard work she’s done. As a parent, I couldn’t ask for much more!”
She’s received a care package, money and homemade cards. A few have done “drive-by deliveries” complete with handmade signs. Zehner accepted some of her gifts in her Acadiana green cap and gown to give them the full effect.
“When I began receiving goodies from the people who adopted me, it brought so much joy to my heart and it’s making this time much easier,” Zehner said. “It’s hard to go through this time, but if we weren’t going through this, we would not have gotten the chance to see just how much our community loves us!”
Notes like those have made the program worthwhile for the parents and organizers, too.
“It has literally been medicine for me,” Morgan said. “It is lifting my spirits. I haven’t thought about corona in days.”
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