Nearly 900 volunteers from Stockton University and the surrounding communities came
together for a morning of service projects in honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King,
Jr.
Galloway, N.J. – By 10 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 20, nearly 900 volunteers – which included Stockton University
students, faculty, staff and alumni, as well as local community members – hit the
ground running to join the various service projects hosted in memory of the late civil
and social rights champion the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
💬 “I believe that Dr. King would be extremely proud to know that we are honoring him
through public service and civic engagement, and I’m proud that we’ve maintained our
designation as the largest MLK Day event in South Jersey,” Brian K. Jackson, vice president of Community Engagement, said.
Volunteers had over 20 different projects to choose from on the Galloway, Atlantic
City, Hammonton and Woodbine campuses.
Galloway
New Angles for Success – Participants listened to a short presentation, toured the Stockton Science building
and participated in a backyard bass activity. Project Partner: Adam Aguiar.
Reusable T-Shirt Totes Project – Volunteers upcycled donated t-shirts by converting them into interesting and fun
tote bags that will then be donated to local food assistance programs. Project Partner: Stockton Center for Community Engagement and Service-Learning, Young
Alumni Council.
Dog Bed and Dog Toy Making Activity – Volunteers assisted in making dog beds out of fabric and dog toys out of old t-shirts.
All completed dog beds and toys will be donated to a local animal rescue. Project Partner: Stockton Center for Community Engagement and Service-Learning, Young
Alumni Council and Stockton Greek Council.
Postcard, Button-Making and Collage about Stockton and AC Experiences – Volunteers participated in three separate stations to make postcards for seniors,
button-making and creating a group collage about Stockton and AC experiences. Project Partner: Stories of Atlantic City.
Blanket making, friendship bracelets, clay hearts, and stuffed animal making – Volunteers assisted in making various products for donations to local non-profit organizations.
Project Partner: Stockton Circle K.
Holiday-themed card-making and Door decor-making – Volunteers made themed holiday/birthday cards and door decor wreaths for local assisted
living facilities. Project Partner: Light the Candle.
Hat/Cape Making – Participants made hospital hats for babies and superhero capes. Materials were provided
to make get-well cards. Created items will be donated to hospitals in the local area.
Project Partner: Tri Sigma.
Peanut Butter & Jelly Making – Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches were assembled and packaged for distribution to
local food bank agencies. Project Partner: Muslim Student Association.
Alphabet Books – Volunteers assembled alphabet books that will be distributed to local area non-profit
agencies. Project Partner: Honors Program.
Saint John’s Hospice Frozen Casseroles – Volunteers made casseroles for Saint John's Hospice, a homeless shelter in the Center
City of Philadelphia. The shelter accepts frozen pre-cooked casseroles, which they
use as needed to feed the homeless.
Appreciation Cards for Local First Responders – Volunteers made appreciation cards for local first responders. Project Partner: Atlantic County Community College.
Cranes for a Cure – Volunteers created origami cranes to be donated to Cranes for a Cure. Project Partner: Joey’s Wings.
Making Weather Mats – Volunteers assisted in making weather mats for the homeless to protect them from
the cold, rain and snow.
Motivational Greeting Cards – Volunteers wrote motivational greeting cards for individuals living at Shore Park
High Rise in Atlantic City.
Atlantic City
“I believe that Dr. King would be extremely proud to know that we are honoring him
through public service and civic engagement, and I’m proud that we’ve maintained our
designation as the largest MLK Day event in South Jersey,” Brian K. Jackson, vice
president of Community Engagement, said.
Gift of Giving Community Care Kits – Volunteers placed donated personal care items (donated from local resorts and businesses)
and treats into decorated bags with uplifting messages. The kits will be donated to
the Atlantic City Rescue Mission.
Tiles for Smiles – Volunteers decorated glazed 4x4 tiles for mosaic installations at selected non-profit,
schools and organizations. The tiles will be installed at Our Lady Star of the Sea
Regional School in Atlantic City.
Comfort and Care Buddies – Volunteers assembled felt hand puppets and placed them in decorated gift bags. All
completed puppets are then donated to designated pediatric departments of hospitals
and health facilities.
Reusable T-Shirt Totes Project – Volunteers upcycled donated t-shirts by converting them into interesting and fun
tote bags that will then be donated to local food assistance programs. The totes will
be donated to Sister Jean's Kitchen in Atlantic City.
AC Rescue Mission Thrift Store Assistance – Volunteers were transported to the Rescue Mission’s Charity Thrift Store in Northfield
from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. They assisted with putting out inventory and sorting through
clothing.
Panel on Disparities in Maternal Healthcare – Volunteers attended a panel session and assisted in making personal cards and writing
station activities. This project is hosted by the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.,
Theta Omega Chapter.
African American Museum of South Jersey – The project was full prior to the Day of Service.
Blessing Bags – Volunteers filled bags with toiletries to be distributed to local churches. The Stockton
National Pan-Hellenic Council hosted this project.
Hammonton
“Dr. King’s mission has been truly embraced by this town, and the sustaining success
of this program is credited to the unwavering support of our local high schools, Stockton
University staff, faculty and students, and our Hamilton colleagues, partners and
friends,” said Christina Birchler, director of Hammonton Instructional Site.
CPR/Basic First Aid by theGalloway Township Ambulance Squad.
Family Tree Digitization Project by the Historical Society of Hammonton– Volunteers digitized local high school students' hard copy family tree projects
and assisted in developing an oral history name cross-reference.
Love Rocks by the StocktonCounseling Student Organization – A project where participants decorated rocks with
inspiring messages/imagery that were left around the campus/community to spread positivity.
Valentine’s Day Cardmaking for Seniors in Assisted Living Facilities by Kramer Hall – Volunteers made Valentine’s Day cards to brighten the spirits of
our older adult community in local extended care facilities.
Woodbine
“This will be our 12th year of celebrating the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service and honoring our
long-term commitment to our community and community service,” Jane Stark, executive
director of the Sam Azeez Museum of Woodbine Heritage, said.
Hygiene Kits – Volunteers assembled hygiene kits to donate to local organizations for those in need.
Valentine’s Day Craft Kits – Volunteers created arts and crafts in the theme of Valentine’s Day for local senior
centers.
The service projects, ranging from craft projects that will line the halls of local
schools, hospitals and senior living communities to packaging hygiene and wellness
kits for local rescue missions, were available on the Galloway, Atlantic City, Hammonton and Woodbine campuses.
“We have a big array of our campus clubs and organizations participating and hosting
these projects,” said Taylor Coyne, coordinator of Service Learning for the Stockton Center of Community Engagement and Service-Learning (SCCESL). “Whether it be benefitting or assisting senior living facilities, local
hospitals, animal shelters or other organizations, this is a great effort from our
Stockton community and surrounding communities.”
The annual day of service, which celebrates 21 years on campus, is a beloved staple
and tradition for the Stockton community, as evidenced by the continued support of
the student organization Stockton Circle K.
Every year, they host a variety of projects, including making blankets, friendship
bracelets, clay hearts and stuffed animals that will be donated to local nonprofit
organizations. Their continued dedication to community service and engagement was
what earned the organization this year’s Community Engagement Award.
When asked how carrying on such a long-standing tradition felt, the current president
of Stockton Circle K, Mariann Delgado of Linden, beamed.
“It’s a really great feeling,” the Health Sciences major said. “The past presidents have been here to guide me, and just to know that
I’m making them proud while helping the community at the same time is a really great
feeling."
The annual program also allowed newer organizations like Stockton’s Young Alumni Club to forge new traditions. Zachary Veneziano, associate director of Alumni Engagement
and convener of the advisory board, said that the club showed interest in sponsoring
one of the projects for this year’s day of service.
They hosted two projects using donated T-shirts in the Multicultural Center: in one, volunteers made reusable tote bags, and in another, they created dog toys
in partnership with the Stockton Greek Council.
“I hope that this becomes a tradition and grows in that the Young Alumni Club can
be involved in bigger ways,” Veneziano said. “I just think it’s great that despite
such inclement weather and everything going on in today’s world, we’re having such
a great turnout and everyone is so positive and ready. This is going to be a wonderful
day.”
The recipients for this year's Community Engagement Awards posed for a photo with
part of the Awards Selection Committee. (L-R): Shawn Cooper (SCCESL), Brian Pluchino
(director for Residential Operations, Facilities and Retention), Mariann Delgado (Stockton
Circle K), Margvinatta Senesie (Graduate Student), Riya Goyal (Undergraduate Student),
President Joe Bertolino and Trish Collins (SCCESL).
Prior to the morning of projects, participants enjoyed a hot breakfast while honoring
Stockton students who went above and beyond to serve their community during the second
annual Community Engagement Awards.
🏆 Recipients for 2025's Community Engagement Awards
“Today is about living our values — engaging with our community, taking responsibility
and honoring the powerful legacy of Dr. King,” Stockton President Joe Bertolino said
in his remarks. “Let’s carry Dr. King’s inspiration forward, not just today but every
day, and leave this world a little brighter than we found it.”
“This event is the capstone of everything that we do at Stockton to support the mission
of the university – this is our way to give back and to reflect on the legacy of Dr.
King and how we can continue to pay tribute to it in not only words but in action
throughout the entire year. It sets the agenda for the entire year,” Merydawilda Colón,
director for SCCESL, said.
– Story by Loukaia Taylor
– Photos by Susan Allen, Lizzie Nealis and the Stockton community
Stockton Celebrates 20 Years of Service to the Community
January 15, 2024
President Joe Bertolino made it his mission to visit every site for his first MLK
Day of Service at Stockton University.
Galloway, N.J. –For20 years, students, faculty and staff of Stockton University have come together and spent
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day honoring the civil rights and social justice icon
by committing to various projects that serve the communities they live in.
Around 750 volunteers on the Galloway,Atlantic City,HammontonandWoodbinecampuses had the opportunity to explore over 30 projects that ranged from smaller-scale
craft-based creations – such as making positive affirmation buttons and decorating
pencil cases for local schoolchildren – to deeper interactions with community members
like Stories of Atlantic City’s storytelling stations.
Inspired byZakat, an Islamic principle that encourages charity, theMuslim Student Association(MSA) hosted a peanut butter and jelly sandwich-making party for their day of service
project. Around 30 volunteers made over 100 bags of sandwiches, which will benefit
the Atlantic City Rescue Mission.
“It's always an honor and humbling to be able to do these sorts of events, and to
be able to help the community come together by hosting an event is even more meaningful
to us,” Ahnjeles Maldonado,Health Sciencemajor and public relations chair for MSA, said.
– Story by Loukaia Taylor
– Photos by Lizzie Nealis and submitted by the Stockton community
