Twelve years ago, the Student Ambassadors organized Adopt-a-Family, a community service program helping Grand Valley families who are tight on money afford Christmas presents.

This year, many campus organizations participated in the program, including campus radio station KMSA.

“As a college radio station, it is part of our mission to give back to the community,” KMSA General Manager Kyle Cooper said. “We chose to adopt a small family. We had a couple with one child.”

Participants were provided a Christmas wish list often containing gifts such as toys and clothing for children and household necessities for parents.

The staff at KMSA hosted a penny war to raise the funds required to buy the gifts. DJs competed by counting the coins and dollar bills collected each week.

“Pennies are positive points, dollar bills and silver coins are negative,” Cooper said. “The goal is to be the least negative.”

Cooper said it is a great way to raise money because those competing can give their opponents dollar bills and silver coins in order to win.

KMSA spent about $220 on their family so they could get everything on their wish list.

“DJs gathered $140 for our family,” Cooper said. “It was a reality check when we received the wish list from the family. It was full of items you and I take for granted every day. We were happy that we were able to provide most of the things on their list and a few Elmo toys for the little one.”

Families who were “adopted” received their presents over the weekend.

lpratt@mavs.coloradomesa.edu