On Monday, January 19, over 800 volunteers across Palm Beach County honored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy at the 10th Annual MLK Day of Service. Led by Palm Beach Atlantic University and the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County’s Kohl Jewish Volunteer Center, with support from GL Homes, the largescale initiative offered volunteer opportunities at 25 sites to benefit the county.
“We are out there in the community working altogether to show that we are stronger together,” said Amy Gordon, director of the Kohl Jewish Volunteer Center, in an interview with CBS12. “We want to repair the world through kindness.”
Volunteers including PBA students, faculty, staff, and local community members spent the day cleaning beaches, planting gardens, packing food with Meals of Hope and the Palm Beach County Food Bank, painting a home, visiting senior centers, and assisting with local animal rescue organizations.
“It’s so important because that’s Dr. King’s legacy,” said Nathan Chau, director of Workship at PBA. “It’s coming together for the common good to serve others and bring harmony.”
Serving Local Nonprofits
More than 19 nonprofits were served, including the Tree of Life Resource Center, a local center offering food assistance, clothing, medical, educational, and other necessary resources to assist individuals and families in need. Founder and president of the Tree of Life Foundation International and 2025 Woman of Distinction Amanda Schumacher has supported PBA students by offering internships at the Center and funding scholarships.
Sporting blue and purple event t-shirts, the PBA Women’s Volleyball team spent the morning packing meals with fresh produce, canned and dry goods, and sorting clothing.
“Being here is a good opportunity to volunteer together as a team and bond before we start our off-season next week,” said Kelsey Rogers, a PBA athlete in her junior year studying exercise science. “It’s great to have a day off from school, but even better to give that day back to the community.”
“I like volunteering,” added teammate Eduarda Dutra, a senior studying international business. “It brings life purpose.”
In the next few years, the Center looks forward to expanding their efforts at a larger, self-sustaining facility, where they plan to house a full-time clinic and six-month housing programs to help families get back on their feet.
“[MLK Day of Service] is helpful because it sets us up for more than one week of work, or 550 meals, so our staff can focus on other areas of need and how we can love on families in other ways,” said Meghan Mayo, director of the Tree of Life Resource Center.
Meals and more
Meanwhile, PBA President Dr. Debra A. Schwinn joined volunteers at Meals of Hope to pack more than 80,000 oatmeal breakfasts for school children. She commended PBA students who were supporting sites across the county. Those who volunteered at MLK events also counted their hours toward the University’s Workship program, through which students have volunteered more than four million hours since 1968.
“Workship is a program that Palm Beach Atlantic University has had since its inception, where every single student [volunteers] 180 hours of community service over four years,” said Dr. Schwinn. “Workship is defined as community service as a form of worship. It’s an integral part of who we are, and I’m just really blessed to see all the students here today.”
By the end of the day, volunteers at the 25 sites cleaned up 120 pounds of trash, packed 350 cat meals at animal shelters, recovered 6,000 pounds of tomatoes, and more.
“I want to take the opportunity to thank the people who came out to volunteer at 25 sites throughout the county,” said Michael Hoffman, president and CEO at the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County. “Everyone who came out represents all ages, all faiths, and people from many, many different backgrounds. It really goes to show that people can come together as a community to give with their hands and their hearts.
“You all could be doing many things with your time right now, but you are giving back to make other people’s lives a little bit better. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”
Learn more about the University’s Workship program and how PBA supports the local community at https://www.pba.edu/workship/.
