Stephen Decatur parent bringing smiles and gifts to seniors with the help of the community

WORCESTER, Md.- Whether it’s gift cards, college apparel, or snacks people in Worcester County are adopting Stephen Decatur seniors and sending them gifts to try and lift their spirits.

“It’s nice to know that people are willing to go out, support the community, do something that benefits everyone,” Emily Tilghman, a Stephen Decatur senior, said.

Tracy Tilghman, a Stephen Decatur parent, said it breaks her heart to see her daughter missing out on memorable times because of the pandemic.

That’s why when a friend of hers introduced her to an initiative called, Adopt A Senior, on Facebook,  she knew it was the right thing to do.

“Well, when I went in there and took a look at what this community did, I could not stop crying, so I was like 750 kids, we have 332 we can do this,” Tracy Tilghman, said.

Here’s how it works, parents put a picture of their high school senior on the Adopt A Stephen Decatur Senior 2021 Facebook Page.

They add the students interests.

Then, people in the community can tell the parent they want to “adopt” the senior to then send them gifts.

“I didn’t really know if it was going to become a big thing or not because you know it’s something I never heard about,” Emily Tilghman, said.

While the Tilghmans didn’t know how the community would react, the response speaks for itself.

“This has only been going on for 17 days, we have over 200 hundred students adopted, and almost 1000 people in the group,” Tracy Tilgman said.

We are told local businesses are also adopting seniors.

Emily said that she will look back on this support in the future, as it truly makes a difference.

“Yea things were hard but we had adopt a senior, we got to have all these great experiences and the bond with the community and just kinda bring light to the situation,” Emily Tilghman, said.

Tracy Tilghman said she has some more surprises for the seniors in the future.

She also added that now Snow Hill High School is also doing this program.

We are told in support of these seniors some restaurants and local businesses are giving discounts to you, if you come in and tell them you are going to adopt a senior.

We are told there are still 128 more students that need to be adopted.