Mahwah Teachers, Staff Give Back On MLK Day

MAHWAH, NJ - More than 500 staff members from the Mahwah School District spent a recent professional development day giving back to the community.

Held on Monday, the day was focused on service in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. and included time for staffers to work on projects for several local non-profits.

Assistant Superintendent Dennis Fare said, " The power of the Mahwah Community was incredible! The K-12 staff not only learned from one another, but also came together to help 8 different organizations that support families, veterans, and children in need."

Service projects

• Bergen County Family Promise
  • Donated new winter hats and gloves.
  • Donated large boys pull ups.
  • Donated paper goods kits to support seminars for up to 40 people.
  • Check for over $1700
• Center for Hope and Safety
  • Donated diapers and wipes.
  • Donated baby monitors.
  • creating cards with messages of hope and positivity.
  • Check for over $1700
• Various Homeless Shelters
  • Created nearly 300 kits with the following: socks, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, lip balm, combs, granola bars, and messages of hope and positivity.

Other initiatives that were worked on: Cards for veterans, blankets for preemies, cards for hospice patients, Color-A-Smile and cards for hospitalized kids, Fare said.

Monday also included over 85 sessions at the K-12 level run by district staff on topics such as social emotional learning, student wellbeing, innovation, technology, curriculum and instructional practices, Fare said.