By Ashley M. Casey

Associate Editor

Kasi Killian was scrolling through Facebook when she saw a local school district posting tributes to its graduating class.

“I was bawling like a baby,” said Killian, a mother of two who lives in Baldwinsville. “I started thinking, ‘There’s got to be something we can do.’”

Killian’s own son, Dylan, is graduating from Baker High School this year. So is Jordan Hoffman, son of B’ville businesswoman Shelley Hoffman.

Hoffman — who grew up in Elizabeth, Pennsylvania, just outside of Pittsburgh — saw that her friends from back home had created a Facebook page encouraging community members to “adopt” a graduating senior.

“People focus on all the stuff the seniors aren’t getting to do like the senior ball and getting to walk across the stage for graduation,” Hoffman said.

But the Class of 2020 is missing out on less tangible things as well.

“It’s the yearbook. It’s the graduation parties where people come to give you words of encouragement,” Hoffman said. “This is a time to brag for parents to say look at what my [child] accomplished.”

“They don’t realize what they’re missing because they haven’t experienced it yet,” Killian said. “You’re okay now, but a year from now, five years from now, when you have kids — you’re going to look back and say, ‘I was quarantined. I couldn’t do any of this.’”

Killian and Hoffman compared notes and agreed that they wanted to celebrate the Bees’ Class of 2020. Thus the “Honoring Our Senior Students” Facebook page was born. Killian has taken the reins in operating the page and Hoffman is promoting the page through her Heart, Home & Community venture.

“I have always been really involved in my kids’ lives. I was the board president for the Baldwinsville soccer team,” Killian said. “I’ve never really run a public page. I had a small page for the Baldwinsville soccer team, but that was pretty much a brag book.”

Since the page launched April 20, it has gained more than 300 followers. Parents submit photos of their senior student, often including their child’s accomplishments and post-high school plans. Neighbors, teachers, family friends and community members can comment on each post. Killian and Hoffman are encouraging people to “adopt” a senior and send them cards or small gifts.

“That’s so nice and it doesn’t really cost a lot,” Hoffman said. “If I adopt a senior, I could just send a $3 card or I could put together a care package that’s $25.”

All you need, Killian said, is “a stamp, an envelope, a piece of paper and a pencil.” She suggested families have their children draw a picture or card for their chosen senior.

At press time, about 15 students had been “adopted” and about a dozen more had been posted. There are about 500 students in the Baker Class of 2020, and Killian and Hoffman invite all seniors and their families to participate.

“We’re going to make sure that every single senior that gets posted … is going to get adopted,” Killian said.

To maintain privacy and safety, families do not have to give out their address or phone number. Adopters can mail items to their senior care of Hoffman’s Heart, Home & Community Room on Oswego Street (see sidebar for info).

“If we get a package for your son or daughter, we will reach out to you and deliver it to you or you can come pick it up,” Killian said. “We made our first inspiring delivery to our adopted senior last night and it was wonderful — the senior’s face just lit up. Not only are the kids going to be excited for these surprise cards … the adoptive parents are excited to do it.”

The page has received an outpouring of positive feedback from families, community members and teachers, Killian said.

“What I’m loving right now is when you go on the page and read the comments that are being posted it brings tears to your eyes. These teachers are just as emotional and miss these kids,” she said.

Killian is hoping to reach families and community members outside of the seniors’ immediate circle.

“I want them to be able to sit back and watch the love grow,” she said.