The Covid-19 pandemic has caused a huge impact around the world and even right here in our community as well. Although there have been many difficult adjustments and events, one program has brought people together despite these hardships.

Here in Sioux Falls, and in many other cities across the country, citizens have created an “Adopt a Senior” program to recognize high school seniors and raise their spirits. The program has a Facebook page where family members can post about their high school senior and connect with families in the community that are interested in “adopting” them. The program has spread the word to families across the city and has gained a lot of participation.

“I first heard about it from some of my friends who had been adopted,” said LHS senior Carli Florey. “It wasn’t until I asked my mom if she knew about it that she told me she had already posted on the page for me and my brother.” 

Once a family adopts the senior, the senior is celebrated with a variety of gifts and goodies from the family. 

“I got a basket full of towels, notebooks and pens, gum, some of my favorite candy and pop, a USD sweatshirt, a USD thermos, a face mask and a card from the family who adopted me,” said Florey.

The kindness and thoughtfulness of this program have truly made an impact on hundreds of seniors. While it is easy to let the difficulties and losses from this pandemic carve a senior’s viewpoint of this time, this program has shed a positive light on many. Various memories and events have been taken away from the high school seniors, but the recognition from the community is greatly appreciated.

“I thought it was really sweet for a family to take in another kid and give them things to make them feel special,” said Florey. “During times like this, I think it is really important to make sure everyone’s feeling recognized (especially the seniors). For [families] to go out of their way to do something like that was really cool and I’m glad I got to be a part of it.”

This train of graciousness continues to spread from family to family across our community. This program truly resembles how a hardship can bring a community together.

“We adopted someone as well and you can tell how much it means to them when we dropped their package off,” said Florey.