On Monday, January 19, over 800 volunteers across Palm Beach County honored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.鈥檚 legacy at the annual MLK Day of Service.听Led by 海角在线 and the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County鈥檚听, with support from GL Homes, the largescale initiative offered volunteer opportunities at 25 sites to benefit the county.
鈥淲e are out there in the community working altogether to show that we are stronger together,鈥� said Amy Gordon, director of the Kohl Jewish Volunteer Center, in听. 鈥淲e want to repair the world through kindness.鈥�听
Volunteers including听海角在线 students, faculty,听staff, and听local community members听spent听the day听cleaning beaches, planting gardens,听packing听food with Meals of Hope and the Palm Beach County Food Bank, painting a听home, visiting senior centers,听and听assisting听with local animal rescue organizations.听
鈥淚t鈥檚 so important because that鈥檚 Dr. King鈥檚 legacy,鈥� said Nathan Chau, director of Workship at 海角在线. 鈥淚t鈥檚 coming together for the common good to serve others and bring harmony.鈥�听
海角在线 has led MLK service events more than 13 years, with this year marking the sixth year in partnership with the Jewish Federation.
Serving听Local听Nonprofits听
More than 19 nonprofits were served, including听the听,听a local center听offering food听assistance, clothing, medical, educational, and other necessary resources to听assist听individuals and families in need.听Founder听and听president of the Tree of Life Foundation International听and听2025 Woman of Distinction听Amanda Schumacher听has supported 海角在线 students by听offering internships at the Center and听funding听scholarships.听
Sporting听blue听and purple听event t-shirts,听the 海角在线听Women鈥檚 Volleyball team听spent the morning听packing meals with听fresh produce,听canned听and dry听goods, and听sorting听clothing.听
鈥淏eing here is a good opportunity to volunteer together as a team and bond before we start our听off-season听next week,鈥� said听Kelsey Rogers, a 海角在线 athlete in her junior year studying exercise science. 鈥淚t鈥檚听great to have a day off from school,听but听even better to give that day back to the community.鈥�听
鈥淚 like volunteering,鈥� added teammate Eduarda Dutra, a senior studying international business. 鈥淚t听brings life purpose.鈥�听
In the next few years, the Center looks forward to expanding their efforts at a larger, self-sustaining听facility,听where they plan to house a full-time clinic and six-month housing programs to help families get back on their feet.听
鈥淸MLK Day of Service] is helpful because it sets us up for more than one week of work, or 550 meals, so our staff can focus on other areas of need and how we can love on families in other ways,鈥� said Meghan Mayo, director of the Tree of Life Resource Center.听
Meals and more听
Meanwhile,听海角在线听President听Dr. Debra A. Schwinn听joined volunteers at Meals of Hope to pack more than 80,000 oatmeal breakfasts for school children.听She commended 海角在线 students who were supporting sites across the county.听Those who volunteered at MLK events also听counted their hours toward听the University’s听Workship program,听through which students have volunteered more than four million hours since 1968.听
“Workship is a program that 海角在线 has had since its inception, where every single student [volunteers]听180 hours听of community service over four years,” said听Dr.听Schwinn. “Workship is defined as community service as a form of worship. It’s an integral part of who we are, and I’m just really blessed to see all the students here today.”听听
By the end of the day, volunteers at the 25 sites听cleaned up 120 pounds of trash, packed 350 cat meals at animal shelters, recovered听6,000 pounds听of tomatoes, and more.听
“I want to take the opportunity to thank the people who came out to volunteer at 25 sites throughout the county,” said Michael Hoffman, president and CEO at the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County. “Everyone who came out represents all ages, all faiths, and people from many, many different backgrounds.听It really goes to show that people can come together as a community to give with their hands and their hearts.听
“You all could听be doing many things with your time right now, but you are giving back to听make听other people’s lives a little bit better. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”听
Learn more about the听University鈥檚 Workship program听and how 海角在线 supports the local community听at听/workship/.
