Group started to match Lake Tahoe graduating seniors with gift-giving community members

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - With high school seniors missing out on all of the traditional end-of-school activities such as prom and graduation, parents and community members around the globe have been coming up with unique ways to celebrate during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In South Lake Tahoe, Baylee Inman decided to help out grads from all schools in Lake Tahoe, including homeschooled students and started a Facebook group Adopt-a-Senior Lake Tahoe to match the students with a gift-giving angel.

The page invites parents of seniors to post photos on the group page with a little story about them, description, future plans, etc., and "put them up for adoption." A member of the community who has joined the group sees the entry and "adopts" them and sends a message to the parent. The parent can then share what their student likes and their interests, and the "adoptive" person will send a gift(s).

"I wanted to make them feel special during these weird times," said Inman, who is the assistant manager at Fire & Ice in South Lake Tahoe.

In just two days 45 students have been "up for adoption" and as of Wednesday evening, 42 have been claimed. Most have been from South Tahoe High, but Inman says all Lake Tahoe senior parents are welcome.

So far, Facebook is the only platform that offers the process so there is nothing else set up at this time.

For more information, visit the Adopt A Senior Lake Tahoe page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/2853825494700085/.