Times have been difficult for everyone since COVID-19 changed the way we live, and high school seniors are facing their own disappointments.

Diana Schall, creator of the Facebook group Adopt a Senior Whitehall High School, noted these students are missing out on their last time playing sports with their team, senior field day, their special night at prom and a traditional graduation ceremony.

“We heard they have been feeling really down,” Schall said. “Most of these kids are involved in some type of extracurricular activity, practicing and training hard, preparing for spring season. To be doing absolutely nothing must be very hard, as the clubs, plays and activities were all canceled. But most importantly, just hanging out with friends and creating memories has come to a complete halt.”

The idea to start Adopt a Senior Whitehall High School was inspired by social media. Schall was scrolling through her Facebook feed recently, when she saw a picture her friend Cindy Williams had posted.

It was a photo of a care package Williams had made for high school seniors in her hometown of El Paso, Texas. Schall, also originally from El Paso, asked Williams about the picture and discovered she belonged to a Facebook group that allowed people to “adopt” high school seniors and send them a gift to let them know they are not being forgotten.

Schall moved to Coplay six years ago, and while she loves the community, she does miss her hometown at times. She joined the group, went through the multitude of posts describing seniors available for “adoption” and chose three students.

“The parents reached out to me about how they loved seeing their kids’ faces brighten up when they received my gift. This made me feel really good, and I thought, ‘Hey, maybe I should tell someone here about this,’” Schall said.

Schall contacted the group’s administrator and let her know how amazing the page was. She asked for permission to create her own group for WHS, and the administrator was pleased to know the idea would spread beyond El Paso.

Schall made her husband, Bryce, and his friend Chris Wydock administrators on the Facebook page, along with Williams, whom Schall asked to help run the page.

Bryce Schall and Wydock are WHS alums, and she asked them to be involved since they know many people in the community. Both have spent the last few years coaching youth baseball and football, and Wydock is the president of Hokendauqua Athletic Association.

He contacted district administrators to find out the number of high school seniors graduating. It was reported there are 390 senior students.

Adopt a Senior Whitehall High School was created April 12 and already has more than 500 members and more than 80 seniors adopted, some by more than one family. The goal is for a family member or friend to nominate a senior, and members of the group can post their intention to adopt that senior in the comments section.

The adopter can communicate with the family to find out the senior’s interests and likes, so the adopter knows what to include in the package.

“They can send anything - an encouraging letter, gift card, lunch, anything to help bring a smile to their face. The adopting family agrees to a no-contact drop-off, where they can leave the gift at the front door and leave. We are trying to keep everyone at a safe distance and abide by the governor’s orders,” Schall said.

On the first day, there was no activity on the Facebook page, and Schall was worried it wouldn’t attract enough members to be effective. She asked her husband to get the word out to the community.

“Whitehall [-Coplay] School District reached out to him and told him they absolutely love the idea and would help us spread the word. Many parents reached out to thank me. They mentioned they were very grateful for what we were trying to do,” Schall said.

In addition to senior adoptions, Schall says one member of the group is an event planner who wants to organize a prom (when it’s safe to do so), and group members have already expressed an interest in helping.

Schall also wants to remind everyone that senior students have been helping their community during this time.

“Some seniors are also out there working in our neighborhood grocery stores and restaurants. They are part of those considered essential. Not only are they missing out on senior year, but they are out there helping run our community through this pandemic,” she said.

To recognize the seniors of WHS, Schall is asking people to share her Facebook group with others. She is hoping more parents of seniors learn about the page and join, so their children can be celebrated as well.

“Life has changed so drastically for everyone, but adults can manage. These kids were looking forward to their senior year,” Schall said. “I want to reach as many Whitehall seniors and let them know they are important to our community and acknowledge their accomplishments.”