Cairn Participates in the 23rd Annual MLK Day of Service

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1536159111912{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”—Martin Luther King Jr.
By spending their day off of classes serving in the community, Cairn students are able to answer Dr. King’s question. Throughout Monday morning and afternoon, many Cairn students recognized MLK day by volunteering their time and efforts in the city of Philadelphia. These students joined the over 145,000 individuals who volunteered their time to complete 1,800 projects in the Philadelphia metro area.
Alongside of students from Temple University and local residents, Sean Godwin, president of the Student Government Association, led a group of students to serve at the Athletic Recreation Center. During their afternoon, they helped clean, paint rooms, and clear off leaves from the playground and pool areas.
Sean was “inspired by the students who would give up their day off to serve outside in freezing temperatures.” The work of the Cairn students was eagerly invited, and the women who worked at the REC center said that the work of these students “went above and beyond their expectations.”
Another group of students traveled to the Tacony Palmyra Watershed to assist the Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership (TTF) in environmental care. With a goal to improve “the health and vitality” of the watershed, over 40 individuals spent their morning removing trash along the walkways.

Student Han Namgung, a sophomore psychology major who helped lead the group of Cairn students, was pleasantly surprised by how much he enjoyed working alongside of those he did not know previously to that morning. He said that he enjoyed  getting outside of his “college safe zone” and meeting unique individuals while he served with them. These interactions were “completely worth it.”  
 

As an annual tradition, Dr. Matt. McAlack, director and professor of the youth & family ministry program, and his wife, Michele, organized the MLK Day of Service event in Bristol Borough. This event brought together local residents looking to invest in their community, including the Mayor and the current and former Chief of Police. With a total of 51 volunteers, including Cairn students, staff, and alumni, the Borough saw the greatest participation in the MLK Day of Service that it has ever had.
After viewing a short program to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the volunteers worked together to package and distribute 2,000 invitations to every home in the Borough, encouraging them to participate in the SouperBowl of Caring Food Drive. After collecting non-perishable goods on SuperBowl Sunday, the food will be sorted and distributed to five local food banks.
Dedicated to equipping students to serve the church, society, and the world, the University is proud of those who have already begun to impact the community outside of campus. Cairn aims to continue its tradition of service on this day for years to come.
 
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