Our Commitment Continues: Rutgers Against Hunger's Adopt-a-Family

November 21, 2022

Members of the Rutgers Community:

Many of you have been part of our Rutgers Against Hunger Adopt-a-Family program for many years, helping close to 3,000 New Jersey families during the holiday season. I am deeply proud to be part of a university community that cares so much for those who are struggling with hunger and poverty right in our own backyards.

We value the partnerships we have built with local social service agencies since the Adopt-a-Family campaign first started in 2008. We are eager to give you the opportunity to support these groups—and the families they serve—once again.

For this year only, we will be soliciting your monetary donations to Rutgers Against Hunger through the Rutgers Foundation and then distributing 100% of those dollars to our agency partners in New Brunswick, Newark, and Camden. Though we will not assign anyone individual families as in past years, we will provide the funds to our partner social service providers in time to provide needed food and household goods to families during this holiday season.

I know that the Adopt-a-Family tradition has brought together offices, departments, and other teams at Rutgers and produced truly heartwarming gifts for families in difficult circumstances—and we have heard from agencies, and sometimes families themselves, about how much your generosity has meant. We want to continue that spirit of giving, if in a different form for this year, so that our host communities know that Rutgers continues to be both a good citizen and a caring neighbor.

Please take time to visit the Rutgers Against Hunger page on the Foundation website to make a pledge and designate where you want your gift directed. We ask that you act by December 4* so that the agencies will be able to share your generosity with their client families during the holiday season. [*Extended to December 7]

As the rising cost of food, housing, fuel, and other staples affects every family, it especially challenges those who are already struggling. Please remember those in our state facing economic hardship and consider taking part in supporting Rutgers Against Hunger this year.

Thank you for your continued support of this important program.

Sincerely,

Jonathan Holloway
President and University Professor