Moorestown High School held its annual L.O.V.E. Fair on Jan. 22, an event that gave students a chance to speak with community organizations about volunteer opportunities.
It all started when Rebecca Russo and Tom Lawless, student council advisors for the class of 2026, wanted to come up with something that centered on the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.
“We really wanted to come up with a way that connected back to Martin Luther King Jr. and what he wanted his legacy to be, and what (Martin Luther King Jr Day) is about, which is a day of service,” Russo said.
The event is held during the high-school’s optional study hall period and is open to all students. This year’s organizations included the Animal Welfare Association, BookSmiles, Habitat for Humanity, the Moorestown Historical Society, Inspiring Life Together, the Volunteer Center of South Jersey, Moorestown Pride and Cathedral Kitchen.
School clubs including the Moorestown Honor and Service Society, the Muslim Student United Club and the International Affairs Club, among others, also participated.
“Students can come, and they can walk around, and they can interact with the different organizations, and it’s actually really nice seeing other organizations interact with each other too,” Russo explained of the fair. “Even seeing, on student council, all the kids get really into it, and they help set up and everybody has their roles. When the organizations first get here and there’s some down time, I like seeing all our student council members interact with them.”
Juniors Juliet Barton, Isabella Palermo and Ashley Carey have been involved with the fair since its inception. Now in its third year, the event sees groups returning and new ones joining, giving students an opportunity to connect with something outside of school.
“I think it’s just so important,” Barton noted, “because kids only really turn to the National Honor Society to get hours for community service, but this can put a foot in the door for anyone, and anywhere that you want to volunteer, you can from here.”
“Showing up to the fair is the first part,” Palermo said. “But you can stop by, see what’s going on and meet organizations.”
“It’s the best way to get to know the organizations in this area because they’re all in one place,” Carey observed. “You can just go and ask them questions – and that’s the easiest part.”
