{"id":227420,"date":"2026-01-22T15:42:09","date_gmt":"2026-01-22T20:42:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/?p=227420"},"modified":"2026-02-16T08:51:56","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T13:51:56","slug":"montclair-state-university-students-answer-mlk-jr-s-powerful-call-to-service-across-new-jersey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/2026\/01\/22\/montclair-state-university-students-answer-mlk-jr-s-powerful-call-to-service-across-new-jersey\/","title":{"rendered":"ÌÇÐÄvlog Students Answer MLK Jr.\u2019s Powerful Call to Service Across New Jersey"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, ÌÇÐÄvlog students fan out across communities to be of service to others as part of Montclair\u2019s MLK Jr. Day of Service and to help live the University\u2019s mission<\/a> of creating \u201ccollaborative, compassionate citizen-leaders.\u201d Some make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, while others package blankets, oral hygiene or food items to be distributed to those in need by partner organizations.<\/p>\n

Sophomore Public Health<\/a> major and Bonner Leader Program<\/a> participant Mateo Llano, who was among this year\u2019s group of student volunteers, says he enjoys volunteer opportunities. \u201cVolunteering benefits me because it allows me to gain education and awareness about the issues that are affecting different groups of people on a day-to-day basis,\u201d says Llano, who along with other student leaders, spent MLK Day sorting and selecting food for clients at the food pantry of the Franciscan Community Development Center<\/a> of Fairview.<\/p>\n

Mikaela Guzman ’22, Bonner Leader and Service Coordinator with the Office of Community Engagement and Partnerships<\/a>, says there are many benefits to service: \u201cVolunteering helps students develop leadership, empathy, collaboration and strong problem-solving skills. They are fully immersed in communities that are diverse in every sense, as volunteering brings together people of different religious, ethnic, cultural and political backgrounds who unite for the common good.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Rocky
Rocky the Red Hawk and handler Sam Fleming hype up the crowd ahead of them departing to various volunteer sites. <\/strong>(Photo by University Photographer Mike Peters)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Montclair Students Deliver on Service \u2013 Together<\/h2>\n

A total of 310 students from the Bonner Leader Program, NextGen Service Corps<\/a>, AmeriCorps<\/a> and Greek<\/a> and student organizations<\/a>, such as the Latin American Student Association, Mexican-American Student Association, Feliciano Women in Business and the Haitian Student Association, fanned out across New Jersey communities to give back. The students assisted 18 community partner organizations, such as the KinderSmile Foundation<\/a>, More Than Bootstraps<\/a>, Rise Against Hunger<\/a> and other nonprofit agencies helping with food insecurity, dental care and hygiene and other needs.<\/p>\n

My service experience has taught me how to lead effectively.” ~ Mikaela Guzman ’22, Bonner Leader and Service Coordinator with the Office of Community Engagement and Partnerships<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Service Opportunities at Montclair That Go Beyond One Day<\/h2>\n

While the Day of Service brings hundreds of students together<\/a>, Montclair offers meaningful volunteer opportunities throughout the academic year. For months, for example, Montclair students, faculty and staff have helped build a Passaic County Habitat for Humanity<\/a> home in Paterson\u2019s One Square Mile<\/a>. Students and organizers encourage peers to get involved by:<\/p>\n