Community Love in a Gift Bag: The Return of Adopt-A-Senior

In the midst of uncertain times and canceled celebrations, Blackstone and Millville found a way to lift up its graduating seniors—and Adopt-A-Senior was born. Or at least, that’s what many in the community believe. While the exact origins of this unofficial initiative remain a bit unclear, Facebook commenters recall it springing to life during the early pandemic years as a way to make graduation season feel a little more special.

Whether or not that’s how it started, one thing is clear: Adopt-A-Senior is back. Over the past week, community Facebook groups have started sharing reminders and invites encouraging people to join the dedicated Adopt-A-Senior group—and that’s how we first saw this heartwarming tradition in action. Inside the group, proud parents, family members and friends are introducing their BMR seniors—sharing names, post-graduation plans, and a few favorite things. The first person to comment “adopts” the student, often following up with thoughtful gifts and messages of encouragement. It’s a fun and meaningful way for the community to say, We’re proud of you. Keep an eye out—new posts may still appear!

Gifts typically follow—often small baskets or bags filled with goodies like snacks, gift cards, handwritten notes, and items that reflect the student’s interests or dreams. Deliveries usually happen the week of graduation (this year, graduation is May 30)—not during the ceremony itself.

There’s no required budget or set expectations. As one parent put it, “My son was adopted last year—it was such a wonderful surprise and a huge boost to the spirits of these kids, especially if there isn’t a lot of family around or limited funds to celebrate them.”

And that’s what Adopt-A-Senior is really about: making sure every senior feels seen, celebrated, and supported by the community that helped raise them.

It’s important to note: this is not a school-sponsored initiative. It’s a grassroots, parent-led effort—built entirely on goodwill and generosity. Families, individuals, and even local businesses can participate. If you’d like to adopt a senior but haven’t yet, keep an eye out for posts—and if you know a student whose family hasn’t posted, reach out to an admin or trusted friend to help.

If you’ve already adopted one senior, give others a chance to jump in before claiming another. The goal is for every student to be matched, and thanks to the incredible spirit of our town, it usually happens.

In a world that often moves too fast, Adopt-A-Senior is a beautiful reminder of what small towns do best: we show up for each other.

Because in Blackstone and Millville, graduation isn’t just a family milestone—it’s a community celebration.

We haven’t yet been able to reach anyone directly involved to speak more about the program, but if you’re curious or want to participate, feel free to join the conversation in the local Adopt-A-Senior Facebook group and see the joy unfold for yourself.