Montclair State University Students Answer MLK Jr.’s Powerful Call to Service Across New Jersey

Every Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, Montclair State University students fan out across communities to be of service to others as part of Montclair’s MLK Jr. Day of Service and to help live the University’s mission of creating “collaborative, compassionate citizen-leaders.” Some make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, while others package blankets, oral hygiene or food items to be distributed to those in need by partner organizations.

Sophomore Public Health major and Bonner Leader Program participant Mateo Llano, who was among this year’s 310 student volunteers, says he enjoys volunteer opportunities. “Volunteering benefits me because it allows me to gain education and awareness about the issues that are affecting different groups of people on a day-to-day basis,” says Llano, who along with other student leaders, spent MLK Day sorting and selecting food for clients at the food pantry of the Franciscan Community Development Center of Fairview.

Mikaela Guzman, Bonner Leader and Service Coordinator with the Office of Community Engagement and Partnerships, says there are many benefits to service: “Volunteering helps students develop leadership, empathy, collaboration and strong problem-solving skills. They are fully immersed in communities that are diverse in every sense, as volunteering brings together people of different religious, ethnic, cultural and political backgrounds who unite for the common good.”

Montclair Students Deliver on Service—Together

A total of 310 students from the Bonner Leaders Program, NextGen Servie Corps, AmeriCorps and Greek and student organizations, such as Latin American Student Association, Mexican-American Student Association, Feliciano Women in Business and the Haitian Student Association, fanned out across New Jersey communities to give back. The students assisted 18  community partner organizations, such as the KinderSmile Foundation, More Than Bootstraps and  Rise Against Hunger and other nonprofit agencies helping with food insecurity, dental care and hygiene and other needs.

“My service experience has taught me how to lead effectively.” ~ Mikaela Guzman BMus ’22, Bonner Leader and Service Coordinator with the Office of Community Engagement and Partnerships

Service Opportunities at Montclair That Go Beyond One Day

While the Day of Service brings hundreds of students together, Montclair offers meaningful volunteer opportunities throughout the academic year. For months, for example, Montclair students, faculty and staff have helped build a Passaic County Habitat for Humanity home in Paterson’s One Square Mile. Students and organizers encourage peers to get involved by:

• Exploring opportunities on and around campus through the Volunteer Center Linktree
• Attending community service events hosted by student organizations
• Connecting directly with the Volunteer Center for opportunities or collaborations
• Following @montclair_volunteers on social media
• Emailing volunteer@montclair.edu
• Engaging with the Office Of Community Engagement and Partnerships

Llano offers fellow citizen leaders this simple but important advice before serving: “Always ask if a community member needs help and always ask questions to get the best volunteer experience.”

Why Volunteering Matters—for Communities and for You

Research consistently shows that volunteering benefits those receiving service and those giving their time and talent. Guzman emphasizes that service is rooted in collective action: “We are not meant to solve complex problems alone; real meaningful change happens when people come together.”

For students, volunteering “exposes students to perspectives different from their own, which deepens empathy and strengthens self-awareness,” while also placing them “in situations that challenge them to embrace who they are as leaders, put their best foot forward and step outside of their comfort zones.”

Lastly, it “fosters a sense of togetherness and unity that is essential for students to experience,” Guzman says.

The Personal and Professional Benefits of Service

Among the many benefits to volunteering:

• Promotes personal growth and self-esteem
• Has been shown to reduce stress
• Provides fun activities and interactions
• Creates opportunities to meet new people
• Positively impacts the lives of strangers
• Offers leadership experience
• Strengthens career prospects — one in five managers report hiring someone because of their volunteering experience.

Reflecting on her own career at Montclair, Guzman adds: “My service experiences helped me stand out, even as one of the youngest professionals in my office. They built my confidence, taught me how to remain grounded under pressure, and strengthened my ability to problem-solve quickly and adapt when challenges arise.”

Ready to find your place in Montclair State University’s community engagement efforts? Apply today and explore our nationally ranked programs, visit campus or connect with an advisor.

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