Adopt-A-Senior helps 2020 graduates

Saturday, May 30, 2020

Residents of Mississippi County have come together to help high school seniors through a Facebook group called “Adopt-A-Senior Mississippi County’.”

Adopt-A-Senior is a social media group that has picked up momentum throughout the country, since the senior class of 2020 has been limited in completing their senior year traditional festivities.

Creator of the local group, Nicole Terry of Blytheville, said, “The president of my company’s wife suggested that I add my daughter to a group for seniors in Northeast Arkansas. Their rules are pretty similar, they allow up to three adopters per senior, and with that the experience itself just made us really happy. Her adopters really listened to things that she liked and it really made her day. I thought it would be good for us also. With Blytheville you have so many schools surrounding us so I thought why not just add the whole county?.”

While some Adopt-A-Senior groups only allow one person to adopt a senior, the Mississippi County group has allowed up to three adopters per senior.

Terry explained, “Seniors join the group, we ask that they post their name, any achievements during high school, the name of their high school and future plans. At that time adopters can choose someone to adopt.”

Terry continued, “Some adopters will pick students because they went to the same high school, or some may adopt because of the same professions or interests. They then connect through messenger to share things the senior might need, want or like, or the adopter has the option to send them a card.”

Terry said that because most of the schools have not had an official graduation, there is not a tight deadline for those that are adopting.

“The seniors should communicate with their adopter within a few days just out of courtesy. There hasn’t been a hard deadline because a lot of schools still have not had their official graduation. I will add a message to the group that by August 1 all adoptions should be closed out and once the final graduation has happened, I will not accept any more adoptees,” said Terry.

Terry said that for the graduates this has also been a lesson of how to show their gratitude.

“The children have been posting and being thankful. This is also a learning process for them; one, to communicate; and two, to show gratitude,” said Terry.

Aaliyah Davis, Salutatorian of KIPP Blytheville Collegiate High School’s class of 2020, said that she is grateful for the contributions of those in the Adopt-A-Senior group.

“I had three adopters, the first sent cash and checked on me regularly. The second purchased items from my Amazon registry list for my dorm room; my third adopter did the same and also sent a book and t-shirt. These gifts are all appreciated. During this pandemic, my parents are out of work and everything we thought we would have to get, they have already helped us out with, so I really appreciate that,” said Davis.

Davis said she plans to attend Savannah State University in Savannah, Ga. to teach criminal justice and become a lawyer.

Terry mentioned, “There are still seniors that need to be adopted, especially a lot of our young men.”

If anyone is interested they can join by simply searching the Adopt A Senior Mississippi County (Arkansas) group on Facebook and sending a request.