Since 2016, Troy University’s Phenix City Campus participates in the Adopt-a-Family event with partners at the Phenix City Housing Authority, a project designed with the goal to support families with children during the holidays.
For families experiencing financial, physical, and emotional adversities, Adopt-a-Family offers some peace of mind.
“This program is near and dear to my heart. I feel pulled to it each year,” said Linda Finley, Administrative Assistant to Vice Chancellor Dr. Dionne Rosser-Mims. “My favorite part is seeing all of the families so overwhelmed with gratitude when they see their children’s gifts. It makes you feel like you’ve really helped make their Christmas brighter.”
Linda manages annual Adopt-a-Family events in coordination with the housing authority’s Resident Services Manager, Tiffany English.
In the days leading up to Adopt-a-Family gift pick-up, the stately boardroom overlooking the Chattahoochee River transforms into Santa’s workshop as TROY volunteers drop off toys, books, bicycles and clothing for participating families. Donations spilling across the conference table and piling high in every corner of the room are later sorted and wrapped by a team of TROY faculty, staff and students for pick-up.
During gift pick-up, families are invited to enjoy hot chocolate and cookies to Christmas music playing across the riverfront lobby.
Five families were adopted in the program’s implementation year. This Christmas, the Phenix City Campus adopted a total of 14 families and 44 children.
“On behalf of the Phenix City Housing Authority, I want to thank Dr. Rosser-Mims and the Troy University staff for their compassion, sacrifice and expression of love during this holiday season,” Dr. Jason Whitehead, Executive Director of the Phenix City Housing Authority, told the TROY team. “Your Adopt-a-Family initiative positively impacts the most vulnerable members of our community and provides hope to families.”
For more information about this topic, please contact Linda Finley at lafinley@troy.edu.
