On Monday, January 15, over 200 students from a variety of clubs and sports gathered to spend their morning off serving the community. The annual Martin Luther King Day of Service kicked off with breakfast in the Commons, after which students headed out to various places to volunteer.

Groups including Rho Kappa, Principal’s Advisory Board, News Journalism classes, and Basketball participated by going to locations like Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry, Hesed House, Loaves and Fishes, and more.

“The group here today filled about 300 bags for our child nutrition program,” Director of Corporate and Volunteer Engagement for Loaves and Fishes Community Services Shelly Schmitz says.

The event was organized by Do More Metea Valley. The goal was to make the day something junior Jo Balmuri calls “Martin Luther King Jr. Day ON”, instead of ‘Martin Luther King Jr. Day off’.

“Martin Luther King Jr. Day On is actually my favorite event of the year because we’re out in the community interacting with locals and serving the people that are always around us,” Balmuri says.

Students who are not in clubs or sports that are participating can still get involved by emailing Dean Rowe. Keep your plans open for Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service next year!