NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – With the holiday season in full swing, members of all 15 State University of New York at New Paltz varsity athletics programs took time out of their preparations for finals and participated in the “Adopt-A-Family” program, which is run through Family Services' Battered Women's Service Program of Poughkeepsie.

This Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC)-sponsored initiative occurs every year around the winter holidays, and last year, 311 children and families benefited from the program.

Each team receives a family with a mother and a certain number of children. The student-athletes in each program then shop for items on the families' wish lists and wrap them just like they would for any other holiday present.

“The holidays are a time for giving and spending time with family,” SAAC president and junior outside hitter from the women's volleyball team Melinda DiGiovanna said. “As student athletes at New Paltz, we are lucky enough to have two families: those at home and our teams here. For a number of years, we have participated in Adopt-A-Family, hoping to share holiday spirit with families in need.”