Students from the Waldorf School of Garden City spent the day collecting trash and cleaning the grounds of the Tanglewood Preserve in Rockville Centre, New York. For many students around the country, Monday, January 18th was a day to sleep-in, play, and enjoy a day-off from school. But for a group of 65 students from the Waldorf School of Garden City (along with their parents, teachers, and friends from Adelphi University’s men’s lacrosse team) the holiday was an opportunity to serve their community and honor the life and teachings of the late Dr. Martin Luther King.

As part of the nationwide “King Day of Service,” the group of volunteers spent the day collecting trash and cleaning the grounds of the Tanglewood Preserve in Rockville Centre, New York. A beautiful 17-acre natural habitat that contains several peaceful ponds, streams, and nature trails, the Preserve is located at the Center for Science Teaching and Learning. The day-long, outdoor event also provided the students an opportunity to meet U.S. Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy (who represents New York’s 4th Congressional District where the Waldorf School of Garden City currently resides).

A group of 65 students from the Waldorf School of Garden City (along with their parents, teachers, and friends from Adelphi University’s men’s lacrosse team), celebrated the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday as an opportunity to serve their community. “We had fantastic weather and a great turn out,” said Keelah Helwig, a Kindergarten Assistant Teacher and chair of the School’s Diversity Committee. “Our MLK Day of Service gave us the opportunity to be in nature, demonstrating care and respect for the earth, attributes that are cultivated at our School through our rich curriculum. The event truly honored Dr. King’s legacy - an opportunity to work hand-in-hand with the very young (and the not-so-very young) in service to our community.”

A beautiful 17-acre natural habitat that contains several peaceful ponds, streams, and nature trails, the Tanglewood Preserve is located at the Center for Science Teaching and Learning. In 1994, Congress passed the King Holiday and Service Act, designating the King Holiday as a national day of volunteer service. Instead of a day off from work or school, Congress asked Americans of all backgrounds and ages to celebrate Dr. King’s legacy by turning community concerns into citizen action. The King Day of Service brings together people who might not ordinarily meet, breaks down barriers that have divided us in the past and leads to better understanding and ongoing relationships.

Volunteers spent the day collecting trash and cleaning the grounds of the Tanglewood Preserve in Rockville Centre, New York.
Volunteers spent the day collecting trash and cleaning the grounds of the Tanglewood Preserve in Rockville Centre, New York.
The day-long, outdoor event also provided the students an opportunity to meet U.S. Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy (who represents New York’s 4th Congressional District where the Waldorf School of Garden City currently resides).
In 1994, Congress passed the King Holiday and Service Act, designating the King Holiday as a national day of volunteer service.
Instead of a day off from work or school, Congress asked Americans of all backgrounds and ages to celebrate Dr. King’s legacy by turning community concerns into citizen action.
The group of volunteers spent the day collecting trash and cleaning the grounds.
The King Day of Service brings together people who might not ordinarily meet, breaks down barriers that have divided us in the past and leads to better understanding and ongoing relationships.
A group of students take a break to smile for the camera.
Students helped clean-up the peaceful ponds and streams of the Tanglewood Preserve.
Before ...
And after.
Volunteers take a break to smile for the camera.
Even a few of Waldorf’s youngest helped with the clean-up.