In recognition of the 60th anniversary of the School of Social Work in Falk College, the Syracuse University community was invited to participate in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service on Monday, January 16 from 9:00 a.m. to noon at the Syracuse Model Neighborhood Association and the Rescue Mission. More than 60 volunteers from Falk College and all across the Syracuse University campus sorted and packed boxes of clothing, prepared sandwiches for delivery to the Samaritan Center, and assisted with special kitchen and office projects.
“In celebration of our 60th anniversary, we thought it was fitting to engage in service activity on a day that most people view as a day off. Our Day of Service was instead a ‘day on,’ allowing students, faculty, and staff to engage with the greater community in a way that was meaningful, tangible, and fits with the philosophy of Dr. King,” says Professor Keith A. Alford, School of Social Work chair and graduate program director. “For our students, this event brought into focus that academe is more than laptops, lectures, and exams. Without a doubt, our students saw the significance of believing in the dignity and worth of humankind. This is a core value of the social work profession that our program instills in its courses and field work.”
As part of the Day of Service efforts organized by the School of Social Work and Falk College in collaboration with the Greater Syracuse Labor Council/AFL-CIO and the United Way of CNY, a donation drive also took place. Donations of winter coats, jackets, warm blankets, non-perishable food, formula and diapers were collected.
“The Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service is a day meant to move us closer to Dr. King’s vision of a beloved community” says Deborah Ducett, director of field instruction in the School of Social Work and one of the event organizers.