26 student-athletes from The College at Brockport Track and Field team recently participated in King for a Day 2013, Rochester Cares’ largest annual community service event of the year on Martin Luther King Day of Service on Saturday, Jan. 19. The Golden Eagles took part in two separate events on the day throughout the city of Rochester.

At the Rochester International Academy, the student-athletes worked with refugee children in making handmade quilts. The Rochester International Academy provides instructional learning to new immigrant students that focus on the English language while emphasizing parental and community involvement.

The second event took place at the Rochester Youth Outreach center where Golden Eagles worked with inner-city youth to create a handmade mural within the outreach center. Student-athletes and the youth worked throughout the day painting the mural. The RYO seeks to provide influential role models throughout after-school and summer activities for youth.

“Even though everyone’s a little different” stated one student-athlete, “it’s nice to connect and communicate shared feelings and moments.” Another Golden Eagle stated “It’s so easy to get caught up in my normal routine. Doing service allowed me to step outside my own daily regimen and see how others are living and going through different situations.”