“Take the first step in faith, you don’t have to see the entire staircase, just take the first step.” — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
There is no better Martin Luther King Jr. quote to inspire people to enact positive change through their service, which is why Carl Maugeri, chair of the Haddonfield Human Relations Commission, used the famous saying to close out the third-annual Martin Luther King Jr. program last week.
The HRC honored Haddonfield students for their award-winning essays and poetry, while also remembering the man who quite possibly did the most for racial equality in the history of this county.
Today, hundreds of students in Haddonfield woke up early on their day off and volunteered their time to serve others, Maugeri said, and are worthy of being honored during the program.
About 100 guests packed the Haddonfield Middle School auditorium, joined by about 20 who marched from borough hall to the school earlier on in the evening.
“We march to commemorate those who have marched against prejudice and racial inequality,” Maugeri said at borough hall. “We march forward for those who also continue to do so today.”
The Haddonfield Memorial High School choir, led by director Paula Meyer, sang several songs and hymnals at the beginning of the program — and again at the opening of the middle-school event.
More than 20 students in the school district were honored for their work during the middle-school program. The essay and poems had to involve the importance of service and volunteerism.
Kelly MacCluen, an HMHS student, read a portion of her award-winning essay to the assembled crowd.
“It only takes one person to brighten up the day of someone in a retirement home. It only takes one person to volunteer at a soup kitchen,” she read from her essay.
The HRC also honored Shannon Plunkett, dean of student life at HMHS, for her group “No Place for Hate” in the high school.
Plunkett thanked the HRC and the student members of the committee for honoring the group.
The group was formed last year, Plunkett said, and encourages students to stand up for those who are being teased or tormented, to not simply walk away and stay silent.
“Everyone should feel safe and welcome while at their school,” she said. “By smiling at our classmates, we serve. By standing up for something that isn’t right, we serve.”
Interested in getting involved with the HRC? The group meets at 7:30 p.m. at borough hall the third Thursday of every month.
