For the tenth year in a row, LCWS students and faculty have devoted their Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday to community service—paying respect to the man who once said that “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, what are you doing for others?”
The day began with seventh through twelfth grade students watching a performance by Muslim Girls Making Change, a Burlington High School group who has gained national recognition for delivering their social justice message through outstanding slam poetry. “Their performance was so powerful and creative,” said LCWS senior Maeve McCurdy. “Their positivity and passion really stood out to me. They gave me hope that I can make change like they are doing. They were so inspirational and I am so grateful they came.”
After the poetry performance and in depth Q&A, students delved into workshop areas of interest like “Speak Up: Collaborative Poetry” and “Self Defense and Good Bystander Behaviors.” In the afternoon, 100 students piled into cars and vans to canvass 21 neighborhoods in Charlotte, Shelburne, and South Burlington. They collected bags and bags of non-perishable food items and toiletries. In the past they have received over 1,000 pounds of donations. This year they collected more donations than ever before. We are eager for the food shelves to let us know the final count. Donations are sent to the Shelburne Food Shelf and the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf.
LCWS students, faculty, and parents wanted to express their heartfelt thanks to the surrounding communities for their generous donations. Many thanks to the Root/Taylor family for underwriting Muslim Girls Making Change performance.