By Terra Avilla
Every once in a while, something simple turns into something really special—and that’s exactly what’s happened with Lassen County’s Adopt-a-Senior program.
What started as a pretty informal, grassroots idea on Facebook has grown into something our seniors and families genuinely look forward to every year.
Here’s how it works: parents post a picture of their senior, what high school they attend, and a little bit about who they are. From their hobbies, interests, future plans. And then almost immediately, people from all over Lassen jump in to “adopt” them.
And when I say immediately, I mean it. If you’ve ever tried to adopt a senior, you know—it’s actually hard to get one because they get claimed so fast. That alone tells you everything you need to know about this community.
From there, adopters connect with their senior, meet up, and just spoil them a bit—whether that’s gifts, meals, or just taking the time to celebrate them. It’s not about going over the top, it’s about making sure these kids feel recognized and supported as they hit a major milestone.
I still remember when Peach adopted a Herlong senior a couple years ago. She had so much fun shopping and picking things out really putting thought into what that student would like. It wasn’t just about buying stuff; it was about making it personal. And when they finally met up, you could just see how much it meant.
That’s the other part that always stands out…the seniors are so genuinely thankful. You can tell it sticks with them. It’s not something they expect, and that’s what makes it hit even harder.
And honestly, that’s what makes this so cool.
These are people showing up for kids they may not even know. It’s the community saying, “Hey, we see you, we’re proud of you, and we’ve got your back.” In a place like Lassen, that matters.
Everything happens through Facebook, which makes it super easy. If you’re a parent of a senior, you just join the group, post your student, and watch what happens. If you’re looking to adopt, you scroll through, find a senior, and reach out—but you’ve got to be quick.
At the end of the day, it’s simple. No big organization, no complicated process, just people doing something good for each other. And that’s exactly why we love this place.
