Plant City is full of residents that wish to make the world a better place. That energy is something many channel into their everyday lives, using small acts of kindness to ensure they leave their community better than they left it.
Early Monday morning, a group of approximately 40 volunteers met at the Bing Rooming House Museum bundled in layers of sweaters and scarves as they split up into groups to tackle a variety of community projects for the annual MLK Day of Service, hosted by the Improvement League of Plant City.
“I came out because I love to just see the smile on their faces,” Joanna Ruiz, an 11th grader from Plant City High School AVID, said. “We do this all together, this isn’t one person, we come together as a group and we actually help make a change in our community.”
The projects were all across town this year, ranging from the Bing Rooming House Museum to the Community Garden at Hillsborough Community College. Though every year is a mix of volunteers, this year the eager workers leaned toward the younger generations. PCHS AVID as well as Gentlemen’s Quest and Ladies Quest, Girl Scout Troop 1157, Troop 658 and Cadet Troop 889 as well as a handful of individual volunteers all came together to honor MLK.
“The premise of Dr. King was serving others,” William Thomas Jr., president of the Improvement League, said. “Dr. King’s legacy was about serving others, addressing the needs of others across all lines.”
The Day of Service has been hosted by the Improvement League for four years. It’s a way to carry on Dr. King’s legacy,
When two high schoolers laughed as they learned how to use a post hole digger to help the museum with some of its major landscaping projects, they embodied the empathetic nature the national holiday set out to convey.
A group of giggling girl scouts that dug their hands deep into the dirt surrounding a tomato plant learned how the garden helps grow produce for the local food bank. They saw firsthand how their service would help be one small link in a long chain of giving back and assisting those in need.
The Day of Service puts one of Dr. King’s greatest messages into the hands of its community.
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said.
In Plant City, the Improvement League has decided to help the community answer that question. Each year they take suggestions from residents on projects that are in desperate need of some touch ups and aid. Over the past four years they have tackled everything from homes to cleaning up HCC.
Thomas said it is one of the MLK Festival’s greatest events, something that helps bring everyone together to spend their day helping someone else. If everyone applied that mindset more frequently he said there would be far less issues plaguing society.
“You know our theme for the festival this year is, ‘Unity Starts Here; The Work Continues,” Thomas said. “Collaboration, acceptance, extending a helping hand to others, that all is a part of what unity is about.”
At the Community Garden, the young scouts got their hands dirty and helped tend the barrels and plant new seedlings. Courtney Paat, cadet troop 889 leader, said she wanted the kids to participate in the event to give them a chance to see the impact of community service.
“I wanted to expose them to something they don’t get to do every day,” Paat said. “They’re seventh graders, they’re right at the age where they’re learning about giving back and everything that means. Having that experience — in addition to what the gardens do for the community and the food bank — it may help them discover something that will spark an interest.”
Karen Bornstine, president of the community garden, opened the gates to the garden at 8 a.m. It was flirting with a mere 50 degrees and yet the troops were eager to get started. She said she was excited to be able to be a part of the experience once again. She hopes the young scouts remember the garden is an essential part of the community and said they are welcome to host their projects or events within its oasis.
“We came out because we like the environment and helping support sustainable gardens and stuff like that as well as Bright Futures, getting some volunteer hours,” Acacia Sallis, a tenth grader in Troop 658, said.
The high schoolers at the Bing House wielded hammers and lugged heavy bags of mulch around as they helped restore the historic building, which is inarguably a cornerstone of the community, to a pristine state.
When the sun reached the highest point in the sky the temperatures had risen to be brisk, but manageable, the hordes of volunteers gathered around a table and enjoyed a catered lunch as they reflected on the work they’d accomplished.
“I guess we came this year for the same reason they do every year,” Jakelyn Vazquez, an 11th grade AVID student, said. “We just wanted to help make this place look great. We want to help, it’s as simple as that.”