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Partly Cloudy Faith centers collaborate on MLK day
The message of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. that “volunteering is the ultimate exercise in democracy” reverberated through older and younger neighbors on Monday, at an interfaith and intergenerational MLK Day event.
The Church of the Harvest in Elmont collaborated with the Hewlett East Rockaway Jewish Center to host the event with over 150 people in attendance at the center, on Main Street in East Rockaway, to participate in over 15 different service projects. The projects, which included card making for children and adults in hospitals, sandwich making, and more, helped local veterans and communities around the world.
“We created this event around MLK’s message of the importance of volunteerism and acts of charity,” Lisa King, executive director of HERJC, said. “It echoes MLK’s message of using his platform to encourage the message of making the world a better place.”
Rabbi Michael Schlesinger and Pastor Curtis Thompson spoke at the event about MLK’s message of volunteerism. After that, everyone broke into groups — separated by age — to participate in volunteer activities. The youngest helpers at the event wrapped books for children of all ages and the older helpers packaged toiletry bags, snack bags, and canned goods.
“Along with this event being interfaith, it is also intergenerational,” Cheryl Karp, director of the HERJC Nursery, said. “Students from the nursery to high school participated in this event.”
King noted that the event had a music component to keep the energy lively and the children entertained. Also, the basketball ministry, iRok Sports, hosted a basketball tournament with both adults and children. She added that volunteering is “not just work, but it could also be fun.”
King added that MLK encouraged people to work together. This is why she invited the Elmont church to join HERJC at the MLK Day event.
“I think in light of the world we live in, the more collaborations and relationships that are created cross culture, the better,” King said.
Pastor Thompson from the Church of the Harvest said it was great for the community to come together on MLK Day and celebrate someone who was an advocate for equal rights and justice. For Thompson, MLK Day was all about collaboration between his house of worship and HERJC. He hopes that displaying this, even on a small level, will encourage others to also work together.
“I think when it comes to helping people, we all speak the same language and believe the same thing,” Thompson said.
Thompson brought students from Belmont Memorial High School to help pack goods and participate in the service events on Monday. He wanted to convey that people can come together and work for a common cause.
“Sometimes, all people need to see is that there are people who are willing to work together,” Thompson said. “So I think it is important that the community sees that.”
Thompson hopes that this event will open the doors to more “community accomplishment” and unity. King echoes this sentiment, as she hopes this event will be the grounds for a bridge between members of different faiths and generations.
King said that next year will be “even better” and hopes that this will become an annual event. She looks forward to keep giving back to the community through other events at the center throughout the year.
