Skidmore Cares: Skidmore College Community Gives Back to Local Nonprofits

Skidmore College President Marc C. Conner, right, and Barbara Reyes-Conner, center, get a donation from Eriko Fujita, Admissions Assistant, during Skidmore Cares Thursday, December 9, 2021. (Sarah Condon-Meyers / Skidmore College)

Faculty, staff, and students volunteer time, efforts, and items to support local residents and families through 16th annual event.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (Dec. 17, 2021) — The Skidmore College community has rallied together for the 16th consecutive year to assist local residents and families through the Skidmore Cares community service program.  

Through this year’s effort, Skidmore faculty, staff, and students donated more than 4,000 food items and more than 1,400 school supplies and personal care items for Saratoga County community organizations. Monetary donations to Skidmore Cares and community agencies totaled roughly $2,000.  

As protective COVID-19 health and safety measures remain in place at Skidmore, participants were invited to drop off donations at Skidmore Cares tables set up outside the Williamson Sports Center during the week of Dec. 6-10. “Virtual can drives” were also held daily, providing students an additional way to participate. 

In all, more than 60 faculty and staff volunteers and 18 student volunteers helped to collect, organize, and deliver contributions to 10 local community service organizations: Shelters of Saratoga, Franklin Community Center, Mary’s Haven, LifeWorks Community Action (formerly Saratoga Economic Opportunity Council), Wellspring, Saratoga Springs City School District PATHS, the Latino Advocacy Program, Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity of Northern Saratoga, Warren, and Washington Counties, and Saratoga Center for the Family. 

The donations continue to meet a critical need in the local community. Founded in 2006, Skidmore Cares has now raised more than $125,000 for community causes and distributed approximately 65,000 food, personal care, and school supplies items.   

“As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, giving back to our neighbors and local agencies is so very important,” said Skidmore President Marc Conner. “The Skidmore community continues to show its generosity and goodwill through this incredible, collaborative tradition that makes a meaningful impact on so many lives.”