Submitted Photo Pictured, left to right: Blake Waller, Miss Kristen Foley (government teacher), Lynn Magistrale (Program Director and Iraq War Veteran), Maggie Eslinger, Marlie Schmidt, Adriana Vara, Brandon Erick, Zach Barlette-Dye, Sarah Charry, Karli Russell, Chris Kreiger (president/CEO and Iraq War veteran), Luke Zbytek, Tyler Czekanski, Don Gula, Spencer Harford, Cole Golembieski, and Quin Monroy.

Students in Kristen Foley’s government class worked to spread holiday cheer to a local veteran family via the Adopt-a-Vet program facilitated through WNY Heroes, a nonprofit that assists military families in need. In the process, they got life lessons in leadership, kindness, and giving back to their community without expecting anything in return.

Each year, veteran families can apply to be “adopted” in order to ease financial burdens and make the holiday season brighter. To raise money, Silver Creek High School students held a $1 “hat day,” as well as a bake sale during the girls’ basketball games. They put up flyers in the halls, decorated the lobby showcase and did a video announcement to advertise their efforts. All donations were used to purchase gifts and wrap them for the family. They delivered the gifts to the WNY Heroes headquarters in Williamsville.