A Warm Welcome for Westfield State University Students
This year marks Elm’s third year of assembling Welcome Baskets for incoming foster and housing-insecure students at Westfield State University, and once again, you came through with incredible generosity.
We proudly put together 20 baskets filled with essentials like bedding, towels, laundry bags, personal care products, desk lamps, fans and other back-to-school necessities. Thanks to your contributions and the generous support of an anonymous community donor, these students will start the year feeling supported and ready for success. The students who helped carry the baskets to storage were deeply touched—some even moved to tears. Every one of them was profoundly appreciative and overwhelmed by the kindness of strangers.
A special thanks to Paul Serafino for graciously allowing us to utilize space in the warehouse and for keeping everything organized and neat. We also want to give a big shoutout to Ethan, who expertly maneuvered the box truck through the tight parking lots at WSU like a boss and helped unload everything into the eager hands of the staff and students. Both students and staff expressed their gratitude for Ethan’s kindness and helpfulness.