It was three degrees when Highland Park’s 17th Annual Day of Service in Honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., on Jan. 19 began at Park Fitness in Highland Park.
But it was sunny too, bringing light to the Monday holiday, which brought out community sponsors, families, and local leaders.
“This is my favorite event that we do all year,” said Highland Park Councilmember Annette Lidawer, who wore a fluorescent safety vest to be easily identifiable as a greeter for attendees who entered the gym of Park Fitness for a 10 a.m. formal short program and acts of volunteerism at community tables set up along the stage.
Meanwhile, volunteers at the Highland Park Senior Center accepted drive-thru donations at the same shared building complex with Park Fitness, using the heated vestibule to organize items, including personal hygiene products, plus healthy food and snacks for local school children.
Emily Ferriman of Highland Park, member at large of the Highland Park High School PTO Board (https://www.hphspto.org/our_pto), is the parent of Cole, 12, a seventh-grader, and Luke, 14, a ninth-grader.
The three family members organized items, which included backpack-friendly food choices offered to local students needing supplemental nutrition.
“During the school week, they (students) get food at school but on the weekend, there’s kind of a gap,” the boys’ mother said. “So we help try to fill that gap by providing a bag of food that they can eat on the weekends.
“Hunger does not discriminate; you find it everywhere in every city, here in Highland Park, it’s 22 % in the school district (of students) for free and reduced lunch,” Ferriman said.
“You see a lot of the flashy stuff, but there’s a lot of kids that maybe don’t know where their next meal is coming from,” Ferriman added.
Carrying in items to benefit the several agencies being collected at the senior center drive-thru was U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider (D-10th). Schneider, of Highland Park, was impressed to see Cole and Luke Ferriman volunteering.
“What I love on Martin Luther King Day, a man who was dedicated to service, for me, when I was these young people’s age, he was a hero, to see that they’re taking that inspiration and coming out and giving back to the community is really extraordinary,” Schneider said.
Cole said, “It’s fun to help out with the community,” while Luke said about the legacy of MLK, “He fought hard.”
Inside the gym of Park Fitness, making cards at an activity table to acknowledge the service of first responders was Ilana Zoberman, 7, a second-grader of Highland Park.
About MLK, “I’m learning how he helped people,” Ilana said.
And to first responders, “Thank you for helping us,” Ilana said.
Also in the gym, Travis Dragicevich, a Highland Park police officer and first responder who served in the United States Marine Corps from 1997 to 2001, was getting ready to present the colors with the Highland Park Police Department Honor Guard to start the program.
Dragicevich was tasked with holding the American flag.
“It’s not about us, it’s about the community, more about helping one another,” Dragicevich observed. “It’s greater than just us.
“It’s about the community coming together as a whole.”
Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering was among the lectern speakers.
“This event brings together community members of all ages,” Rotering said to the audience. “All people have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
“Dr. King used his voice to advocate tirelessly for these foundational values.
“And every speech he gave and every march he led, he challenged us,” Rotering said.
The keynote speaker was Chala Holland, superintendent of Township High School District 113 (Deerfield/Highland Park), who said in reference to the community’s seniormost adults in appreciation, “You are the village.
“We can not stop because the work is slow, we can not stop because the work is hard,” Holland said.
“Every step towards the goal of justice requires sacrifice and suffering and struggle,” the superintendent said.“Keep moving forward.”
Seated in the program audience was patron Howard Schultz of Highland Park who described what he was witnessing around him as the gift of philanthropy on MLK Day.
Schultz said, “It’s an opportunity to give back to the community to maintain the strong foundations and principles of Martin Luther King which we need now more than ever.”
Karie Angell Luc is a freelancer for Pioneer Press.
