William Paterson Community Comes Together for Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service


Campus volunteers package meals with Rise Against Hunger on campus

WP students spend time outdoors with preschool students from the Child Development Center

On Friday, Jan. 23, more than 100 William Paterson University community members – students, faculty, and staff – gathered in the University Commons Ballrooms and at community partner sites for the University’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service event presented by the Office of Campus Activities, Service & Leadership. Inspired by the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. – “Everybody can be great because anybody can serve” – the event emphasized leadership, civic engagement, and service to others.

The day began on campus with a keynote address from WP alumna Naima Ricks ‘11, PhD, managing director of partnerships and growth at Reading Partners, a national non-profit organization which provides volunteer reading tutors to children in under-resourced schools. Ricks reflected on Dr. King’s legacy and inspired students to see service as a catalyst for change.

“The energy in the room reminded me of the impact we can have when we come together in service and purpose,” she said following the event.

Her remarks set the tone for a morning centered on purpose, compassion, and community impact. Participants got to work with either hands-on service projects on campus or at partner organizations, reached via buses chartered by WP. In the University Commons Ballrooms, volunteers worked together to package 10,000 meals in collaboration with Rise Against Hunger, supporting global food security efforts. At the William Paterson Child Development Center, at 1800 Valley Road, volunteers read to and played with children, provided companionship to them at lunch, and assisted teachers.

Participants also served at several off-campus sites, including:

  • St. Peter’s Haven, organizing and packaging donated items;
  • Father English Food Pantry, stocking and organizing pantry items;
  • The Pointe at Teaneck Senior Living, helping residents with technology on their mobile phones and providing companionship; and
  • Black Lives Matter Paterson, assembling 200 kits with life-saving supplies that are distributed by outreach teams

Through meaningful action and collaboration, the annual service event reflected William Paterson University’s commitment to civic engagement, demonstrating that positive change begins when individuals come together to serve.

"This year’s MLK Day of Service was especially noteworthy, as all community partner sites have requested that WP return for future service projects, underscoring the value and impact of the University’s involvement," says Barbee Edwards, who coordinates civic engagement initiatives for the Office of Campus Activities, Service, and Leadership through AmeriCorps. "Additionally, two new volunteer civic engagement events have already been scheduled as a direct outcome of this year’s service efforts, demonstrating that the spirit of the day continues well beyond a single event." 

01/28/26