News
HAVOC’s Annual MLK Jr. Day
By Rylee Carrillo-Waggoner ’19
January 26, 2017
Tags news
On Saturday, Jan. 21, over 180 students went into Clinton, Kirkland, New Hartford and Utica to participate in HAVOC’s annual MLK Jr. Day of Service. Traditionally held the first Saturday after the beginning of classes, HAVOC invites students to start off the new year and new semester by reaching out and engaging with the surrounding communities beyond Hamilton’s hill. Libbie Warner ’19, co-director of HAVOC, comments, “I think MLK Jr. Day of Service is a great way for college students to get involved and learn more about the community. It is an opportunity to come together and help the community. We run Making a Difference Day in the fall and MLK Jr. Day of Service in the spring, so those two service days allow students to get off campus and help the greater community.”
This year’s service projects included aiding the American Red Cross in installing smoke detectors in homes throughout Utica, sorting donations at Central New York’s Veterans Outreach Center and at Rescue Mission of Utica, visiting with the residents of the Hazel Carpenter Home, and aiding multiple libraries in the area with organizing and updating their book collections. Warner’s co-director, Eleni Neyland ’18, commented, “Most of the community partners we work with for our MLK Jr. Day of Service have a strong relationship with HAVOC throughout the semester. However, a good number open on Saturday for this event – when they would normally be closed. That certainly reflects how important Hamilton participants are in completing projects or generally contributing to these organizations.”
This day of service is one of HAVOC’s biggest events, comparable only to their Make a Difference Day, which operates in a similar fashion but during the fall semester. Neyland explained, “I see HAVOC as accomplishing two major goals with our major service days: first, we help our community partners (the organizations we work with) by providing volunteers, and second, we empower Hamilton students to enact positive change in the greater community through community service.” This year, Hamilton students volunteered at 23 different organizations in the greater community area and together served a combined total of 555 hours. In reaction to these high numbers, Warner reflected, “I find it very exciting and amazing that about 200 people each semester wake up early on a Saturday morning to help others. It truly means something and shows students dedication to making a difference.” Neyland added, “We greatly appreciate the commitment Hamilton students display towards community service… It is an early and long day, but always a very rewarding one.”