Aracely Ruiz, a junior from New York City who regularly volunteers in the community, is no stranger to Bethesda House's meal program for Schenectady's needy.
But even she was surprised by the turnout for lunch on Martin Luther King Jr. Day: more than double the usual number of 65.
Ironically, the reason for the crowd at Bethesda House is that some local agencies were closed on the day that honors the civil rights leader, Ruiz explains.
“Every day should be a special day like Martin Luther King Jr. Day,” says Ruiz. “It's a shame that people tend to help others only during the holiday.”
Ruiz and sophomore Emily McKay coordinate UCARE (Union Community Action Reaching Everyone), a clearinghouse for student volunteer initiatives run out of the Kenney Community Center. On Monday, they organized a corps of students from Union and Schenectady High School to volunteer their time at Bethesda House, Hamilton Hill Arts Center, Family and Child Services of Schenectady and the Eddy Senior Center.
Monday afternoon, about 75 faculty, students and staff attended a commemoration in Old Chapel that included music, recitation of poetry and readings from King's speeches. It ended with the singing of “We Shall Overcome” and a candlelight procession on campus.