Nearly 300 members of the campus community participated in the annual MLK Day of Service to honor his legacy of justice and service to others on Feb. 7. Non-profit organizations both on and off campus, benefited from the large volunteer turnout. 

Off-campus sites in the greater Oswego area included Camp Foundations and Blessings in a Backpack. King famously organized communities to end poverty and child hunger: “I have the audacity to believe,” King said, “that people everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture for their minds and dignity, equality and freedom for their spirits.”

Blessings in a Backpack aligns with King’s vision by providing meals to local children over the weekends, evenings and holiday breaks. SUNY Oswego students helped the organization to clean, sort and pack food items for local kids in need.

“Our need is growing and the cost of food isn’t getting cheaper,” said chapter coordinator Melissa Russell. “The children that receive this food are local, you might see them throwing rocks in the water, at Walmart, at the park or walking by your house. It’s through no fault of theirs that their home may be food insecure; that’s where we come in. We provide a little sustenance over the weekend to help curb hunger.” 

In addition to off-campus projects, the Marano Campus Center was filled with students packing hygiene bags for unhoused members of the community, making dog toys for local shelters and humane societies, and building bluejay bird houses for sustainability efforts on campus. Others spent the day hand-knitting blankets and making cards for local seniors through the Oswego County Office of the Aging.

Another project was a collaboration with SUNY Oswego Golden Z Club, Zonta Club of Oswego, Z Club of Oswego High School and the SUNY Oswego Office of Sustainability. Together, students and members made sustainable and reusable menstrual products for people in the community and beyond. For each reusable menstrual pad, 80 percent of the materials are repurposed from leftover items from the Sustainability Office's annual thrift sale.

“The MLK Day of Service was a huge success,” said Christina Vasquez, director of the university’s Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Progream and Golden Z Club advisor. “Many people have to make a decision each month about whether they can afford to spend money on menstrual products or whether the money is better spent on groceries or gas. No one should ever have to choose between their needs.” 

Strengthening the community

“The MLK Day of Service represents the heart of my role here at SUNY Oswego,” said Jenn Joyce, community engagement and service-learning coordinator. “It’s more than volunteering; it’s about strengthening our community partnerships and ensuring that our students see the impact they can have on their local neighborhoods. Seeing the Marano Campus Center buzzing with activity reinforces our commitment to Dr. King's legacy of great service. The dedication from the students, who came out in the middle of a snowstorm, was inspiring.”

Participating students agreed on the importance of service.

“The MLK Day of Service event has been one of the most impactful experiences for me as a volunteer,” senior information science major Diamond Ramos said. “It is amazing how many people come together with the same passion to make a difference. Seeing everyone with so much joy and purpose is just amazing.”

An upcoming opportunity to serve is the “Staycation” alternative spring break, during the week of March 19. This is a great opportunity for students who are staying local for the spring recess, organizations said. 

Students, faculty and staff who are interested in developing or participating in service projects can contact Jenn Joyce, jennifer.joyce@oswego.edu, community engagement and service-learning coordinator in the Office of Experiential Learning. 

-- Submitted by Experiential Learning