On Jan. 19, the Pascack Valley Regional High School District came together to commemorate the fourth annual MLK Beloved Community Day of Service. Inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision of a community where peace, unity and shared abundance are the focus, students, staff and community members engaged in more than 20 service projects. Despite a snowy weekend, participants traveled across town to volunteer, fulfilling the district’s commitment to service.
Highlights of the Day
Volunteers participated in projects at Pascack Hills and Pascack Valley high schools, as well as various off-site locations. The event was organized by teachers, district residents and alumni.
Projects included:
- Team Sapienza Gardens: Volunteers cleaned more than a mile of walking paths in Hillsdale, New Jersey.
- Team Families for Families: Participants assisted in collecting local furniture donations in Wyckoff, New Jersey, for families in need.
- Team Jewish Family Services: Volunteers transported items from a food drive to the Jewish Children and Family Services in Teaneck.
- Team Operation Gratitude: Participants crocheted and knitted handmade scarves for military troops.
- Team Guidance Murals: Volunteers at both high schools painted murals in guidance offices to brighten the space for students and staff.
- Team Harriman State Park: Volunteers assisted with trail maintenance and litter removal in Sloatsburg, New York.
- Team Cards of Encouragement: Art lovers created handmade cards for patients in local hospitals.
- Team Eid Goodie Bags: Participants prepared bags for children during Eid prayers.
- Team Immigrant Alliance: Volunteers assembled care packages filled with essentials for immigrants arriving in the United States.
- Team Veteran’s Breakfast: Sponsored by the NJEA, participants joined local American Legion Posts 162 and 153 for breakfast with veterans.
- Team Sensory Carnival: Sponsored by Camp Raspberry and the Unified Club, volunteers assisted students with disabilities.
- Team Juniper Village: Participants made snowflake crafts and decorated cookies with senior residents.
- Team TAC: Sponsored by the Pascack Valley Regional Education Association, participants partnered with the Zack Latteri Foundation to make blankets for children undergoing cancer treatment.
- Team Interact: Volunteers created uplifting cards for senior residents.
- Team Adult Education: Participants assisted adults by offering technology classes.
- Team Becca’s Closet: Volunteers helped teenage students find prom attire.
Impact and Reflections
The day of service showcased the district’s growing commitment to community action. Freshman Morgan Kaffee reflected on her first year of participation.
“I think the idea of getting together to not only celebrate Dr. King’s legacy, but to give back to the community while attending to your personal interests and enjoying the experience at the same time is astonishing and good for our community,” she said.
Kaffee worked with Team Becca’s Closet and said she loved being able to “contribute to the smiles” of those she helped.
By materializing change and looking toward a future of equality, the Pascack community continues to honor King’s legacy through action and unity. After all, the day served as a reminder of one of his most famous truths:“We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”
