Schools

‘We all have something to offer’

Central school district comes together for MLK Day of Service

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The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., born Jan. 15, 1929, said that the most urgent question in life is, “What are you doing for others?” Students in the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District were directly asked that question last week, and their answers ranged from collecting food for the less fortunate to spending time with an individual who needs someone to listen.

As part of a district-wide “Day of Service” honoring Dr. King’s legacy, social studies classes on Friday were shown a short video featuring legendary civil rights champion Rep. John Lewis, of Georgia, proclaiming the importance of serving others.

Teacher Elizabeth Separ asked her AP social studies class at Calhoun High School to take 30 seconds to write down one way they could make a difference for someone else during the coming weekend.

“My grandma is going through chemotherapy, so I thought I could bring her some cookies or something, or just spend some time hanging out with her,” one sophomore girl offered.

Adam, also a sophomore, shared that he had been taught as a youngster to walk by homeless people holding signs asking for help. “Now that I’m a little bit older I feel like I’m really doing something wrong,” he said.

Another student, next to Adam, resolved to “just be there for someone who needs someone to listen.”

That same morning, in Calhoun’s lobby, students poured through in groups of three to fill bags with food bound for local aid agencies, including the Rosa Parks INN, Bethany House, MOMMA’S House and Rock and Wrap it Up.

Kate Caporusso, chair of the social studies department, oversaw the operation, alongside senior Emma Davie, Student Ambassador from the district-wide group One Voice, One Message.

“We’re hoping that this motivates the students to go out and do some kind of service,” Caporusso said as she waited for students to arrive. She recalled at last year’s event, a girl came to her office during her off period, asking if she could make up a second bag of food.

“She said, that it just made her feel so good,” Caporusso said with a smile.

Davie said that she, along with other members of One Voice, One Message, regarded the Day of Service as one of the more important days of the school year.

“I definitely think it’s important, especially since we do live in a fairly comfortable community,” she said. “It’s important to help those that don’t live so comfortably.”

Over the course of Thursday and Friday, all 5,900 students in the district filled 2,000 reusable grocery bags with pantry, household and hygienic items they had collected since early December.