1st Annual MLK Day of Service a Success

Area residents of all ages came together Monday to work toward a common goal: making a better tomorrow.

Over 500 individuals gathered at the Jewish Community Center of Central NJ to volunteer as part of Scotch Plains-Fanwood's 1st annual MLK Day of Service. The day started with an opening ceremony that featured speeches by Sen. Tom Kean (R-Westfield), Assemblywoman Linda Stender (D-Union), Scotch Plains Mayor Nancy Malool and Fanwood Mayor Colleen Mahr. Participants then dispersed to serve at approximately 35 project sites.

"Martin Luther King taught us that we are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny, whatever effects one directly, affects all of us indirectly," MLK Day chair Michelle Abraham told the crowd gathered for the opening ceremony. "Well over 1,000 people will be touched by the work we do today."

Volunteer opportunities varied greatly depending on interest and need. Children activities included baking apple pies and making flower pots for seniors; decoraing Valentine cards for troops; and helping make sandwiches for the hungry. Adults recorded the stories of seniors; donated blood; sorted recycling; cleaned the Fanwood Nature Center and more.

"I think the outpouring of compassion, people coming together, is because we understand our humanity is shared," Assemblywoman Linda Stender said at the event.

Children started the morning off by gathering to decorate signs representing the words "community," "compassion," "healing," "equality," "courage" and "respect."

"We thought of love and holding hands and helping each other because Martin Luther King had lots of compassion to stop segregation and bring the world together, and everyone here is compassionate for helping out and helping the community," one of the children said while presenting the "Compassion" poster to the crowd.

Non-profits set up tables in the same room to spread the word about their work, including the Fanwood-Scotch Plains Rotary Club, which raised money to purchase "shelter boxes" for the people of Haiti.

"It was amazing how many people walked up to me and told me how they wanted to be on the committee for next year, how grateful they were to have this in our community and their hopes for volunteering through out the year," Abraham said of the first year's success. 

For those who would like to get involved with next year's efforts, e-mail spfdayofservice@gmail.com to get on the list for more information.

Were you at the event on Monday? We want to hear from you! Add your photos to this page by clicking the "add" button under the photo box, or by e-mailing them to lindsay@patch.com. Also share your experiences in words by adding comments to the bottom of this page, or by e-mailing your thoughts to lindsay@patch.com.