It was a cold but sunny day for the 2023 MLK Day of Service at West Windsor Arts. This being our 5th year of the program, but 3rd year under Covid precautions, we limited the number of in-person volunteer spots. Individuals as well as local businesses, sorority and fraternity chapters, and high schools contacted us to be involved, and we were very happy and grateful to have their help! As usual, the West Windsor Police Department showed up to assist and provide their support for the day.
With a sponsorship from Citizen’s Bank, we were able to make this one of the most productive MLK Days of Service that we have had yet!
MLK Day of Service 2023 results by the numbers:
80 in-person volunteers
2,524 cutlery sets for TASK (Trenton Area Soup Kitchen)
131 letters against isolation for senior citizens throughout NJ
115 healthy bedtime kits for Rise Community Services
42 mom’s personal care kits for WomanSpace
30 young men’s personal care kits for PEI Kids
25 babycare kits for MillHill Child Development Center
12 handmade hats and mittens for Children’s Home Society of NJ
A few donations were collected the week before the event, but during the day on January 16th, our parking lot was busy all day with folks dropping off their items to be organized and packaged by our volunteers. In the gallery, we had stations set up for each project, and volunteers sprung into action, keeping everything organized and well-packaged for delivery as they listened to a playlist of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s speeches. They also spent time creating beautiful messages of hope, encouragement, and inspiration for senior citizens. Snacks and beverages kept them fueled for the work ahead and were a welcome treat.
We are incredibly humbled by the outpouring of effort to make this day a success in providing much needed supplies to our neighbors in need. The value of these donations lies not only in the items themselves, but in the care and creativity with which they were provided. We would like to thank our partners, the African American Parents Support Group – especially Latoya (Toy) Edwards and the Black Student Union of WW-P schools.
Additional thanks go to Nicole Roberson and the team from Novo Nordisk, the Garden State Bar Association, the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, and Nottingham and Montgomery High School students.
Gallery of Photos from 2023
