HAVOC’s 20th Annual MLK Jr. Day of Service saw its largest turnout yet with just under 250 people coming out early on Jan. 20 to volunteer in Clinton, New Hartford, Utica, and Rome. Hamilton Association for Volunteering, Outreach and Charity (HAVOC) is part of the COOP, which oversees community service opportunities
HAVOC sent students to 28 sites ranging from organizational work for a city mural to spending time with the elderly to playing with kittens. One site included a student playing the piano for the elderly while another site had students help with meal prep. This record number of signups and attendance points to the increasing desire of students and organizations to get involved throughout the community.
Sites included Clinton Pet Vet Rescue and Sanctuary, Thea Bowman House, Players of Utica, Rome Clean and Green, and Kirkland Library, to name a few.
HAVOC co-director Libbie Warner ’19 said, “What was so great about this year’s MLK Jr. Day of Service was the sheer number of volunteers. It was great to look out at the Annex and see the whole space full of college students ready to spend 2-3 hours of their Saturday helping others.”
Warner said when the groups returned to campus they “had great enthusiasm and joy for what service they had just completed. It was a day of excitement and energy.”
NBC affiliate WKTV News Channel 2 covered the event. See the story here.
