Beaufort County Community College (Beaufort CCC) brought students, employees, faith-based partners, and community organizations together for its eighth annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration and second annual Day of Service, honoring Dr. King’s legacy through hands-on service that addressed local needs.
The day focused on turning reflection into action, with participants assembling care packages, supporting local shelters, and assisting animal welfare efforts so that all members of the community can live lives of dignity.
As part of the Day of Service, Beaufort CCC students assembled care packages filled with toiletries, hats, and blankets. These packages will be distributed through Zion Men’s Shelter and Kitchen and Open Door Women’s Shelter to individuals experiencing homelessness. Donations for the care packages were provided by local churches and community partners, including Ware’s Chapel United Methodist Church, Word of Life Worship Center, Spring Garden Missionary Baptist Church, Beebe Chapel Christian Methodist Church, Cornerstone Family Worship Center, Kingdom Life Community Church, and St. Peter’s Episcopal Church.
One hundred handmade hats included in the care packages were donated by Uncle Bud’s Knitters, a faith-based group of knitters new to loom knitting. The project took several months to complete and builds on the nearly 4,000 hats the group has donated to community causes over the past three years.
Another volunteer team supported the Beaufort County Animal Shelter, assisting with cleaning, feeding, and preparing care items for animals awaiting adoption.
Teams were made up of students, faculty, and staff, as well as members of local faith-based organizations who helped gather materials, create donations, and support the assembly of care packages. After completing their service projects, participants returned to campus for acknowledgment and fellowship.
The Day of Service was followed by Beaufort CCC’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration, where Rev. Joneice Carroll encouraged participants to use their platforms to be a light for those whose voices are not always heard and who may feel unseen or overlooked. The annual Day of Service continues Beaufort CCC’s tradition of bringing community leaders together to reflect on Dr. King’s legacy and the ongoing work of advancing equity, compassion, and collective responsibility through action.
