Residents of Glen Rock are invited to participate in a Day of Service at the Glen Rock Annex (678 S. Maple Ave, Glen Rock) between 10am and 2pm. Volunteers of all ages are encouraged to stop by at any point and stay for as long as they are able. Volunteers will be tying and knotting blankets and ponchos for homeless New Jersey residents and putting together toiletry baskets for homeless shelters across Bergen County. No crafting skills are required for this event and all necessary materials for the baskets and blankets will be provided.
This day of service was created by Lauren Amram, a junior at GRHS and president of Key Club and the VP of Student Council, and several other Glen Rock High School Clubs to celebrate this important service day and honor Martin Luther Kings message that people need to stand up for what they believe in.
Asking Lauren about what inspired her to do this and bring all of these clubs together, she stated, “Martin Luther King Jr.(MLK) Day is such an important day to volunteer because service embodies everything MLK stood for. Martin Luther King’s message is as relevant today as it was when he was alive. People must stand up for what they believe in. Especially today, the youth of our generation should voice their beliefs. We have a different perspective on things and could bring new ideas to the table. Students at Glen Rock High School want to help make the world a better place.
She then continued to explain how this day of service came together. “Glen Rock High School is full of clubs that are devoted to improving society. For this day of service, I decided to bring together many different clubs of Glen Rock High School to collaborate. Each club did their part to make this day happen in honor of Martin Luther King Day. I am president of Key club, a volunteer club at GRHS. Key Club, Poverty Awareness club, the Seven Elements club and National Honor Society have worked together to celebrate this day. Matt Sheils is the president of the Poverty Awareness club and Andrew Bober is the president of the Seven Elements club. Mrs.Walter, the advisor of key club and my favorite teacher at GRHS, was an integral part of making this day happen. I contacted students in Glen Rock High School to help volunteer. My middle school teacher, Mrs.Leibman, contacted me asking if her middle school students could also participate and volunteer. The MLK day committee asked for a service project for this day and many clubs joined together and did their part for this day of service. “
Lauren will then speak at the Social Justice Forum with Attorney General Gurbir Grewal and moderated by Mayor Bruce Packer. This forum will be held on Saturday, January 19th at All Saints Episcopal Church (40 Central Ave, Glen Rock) from 4pm-6pm. The theme of the forum will be “Why Should Young People Lift Their Voices, Now More Than Ever.”
Mayor Packer will moderate a panel that includes Attorney General Gurbir Grewal, Bergen County YWCA CEO Helen Archontou, Glen Rock High School Students Madeleine Brennan and Samara Rosen, and Ridgewood High School Students, Alana Benson and Sophia Swanson.
Following these events on January 21, 2019 will be the annual Interfaith Service that will be held at Ridgewood United Methodist Church (100 Dayton St, Ridgewood) on Martin Luther King Day, Monday, January 21st, at 10am. This year’s theme is “Lift Every Voice, Now More Than Ever.”
Contributing: Mayor Bruce Packer , Lauren Amram.
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