Family Matters Club looking to honor graduates

The Canyon Lake Family Matters Club is in the organizational phase of implementing an Adopt a Graduating Senior Project. Canyon Lake’s version was inspired by the National Adopt a 2020 Senior Project, according to Shawna Bowen of the Family Matters Club.

“While we wait for approval and logistics on our Senior Congratulations Parade,” she said, “we wanted to do something immediate and allow the community to connect and congratulate our seniors. We know Canyon Lake is an awesome community to live in and that it is the perfect place for this “Adoption” program.“

The program would allow individuals to “adopt” Canyon Lake seniors in high school or college and “pretty much shower them with extra love by sending the graduates a letter, card, gift, gift card, snack or anything to let them know we’re all rooting for them,” Shawna said. “It’s a stressful time with cancelled proms and graduations postponed. Let’s share the love!”

First, the families of seniors who would like to participate need to be identified. Families can sign up their high school or college senior by going to the Family Matters Facebook page and under events click on Adopt a Senior. Or, Shawna said, the applicant can also type in Canyon Lake Adopt a Senior Project.

Then, the following information needs to be entered to add the Canyon Lake senior:

1 – Type *Not Adopted* at the beginning of the post, 2 – Upload a picture or video of the senior, 3 – Type the senior’s first name, 4 – Enter the school the student attends, 5 – Type something about the senior, and 6 – Type the senior’s likes and interests.

All graduating seniors must live in Canyon Lake.

Once the students are entered into the Facebook Page, community members can “Adopt” a senior, by commenting on the photo of the one to adopt by typing: “ADOPTED.” After choosing the graduating senior to adopt, the community member and the family will need to connect and obtain the student’s contact information for sending gifts, care packages, a letter, etc.

Once a senior is adopted, both the member and admin will need to update to “ADOPTED.” A senior can be adopted multiple times by different community members and a community member can adopt several different seniors. The goal is to make sure all seniors get adopted.

It is entirely up the community member who is adopting the senior as to what gift or how many gifts to give. There is no rule on what or how much. What is given is totally up to the community member’s discretion.

The program will take place starting immediately and will wrap up on June 5, which would have been the final day of school.

“Please be mindful and careful when giving out personal information to others,” Shawna said. “Use your personal judgment. Do not post personal information like addresses and phone numbers anywhere on the Facebook page.”

For more information or details please contact the club at info@familymattersclub.org or by calling 714-394-4885.