Harter Secrest & Emery LLP, a full-service business law firm with offices throughout New York, recently held a school supply drive to benefit students in three elementary schools in Rochester and Buffalo. The drive was part of a firmwide annual program to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Over 17 boxes of school supplies were delivered to Rochester City School District school #5 (John Williams School) and school #9 (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community School) and Buffalo’s Primary Hall Preparatory Charter School.
“On behalf of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community School #9, I want to express our sincere appreciation to Harter Secrest & Emery for the donation of school supplies for our students. Our mission is to provide a safe, nurturing, and pleasing environment where we strive to build positive partnerships with the community to support our students and families. Your donation of supplies will greatly support our instructional priorities,” said Demitria Lawton-Greggs, Community Schools Site Coordinator at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community School #9.
The schools provided “wish lists” of an array of items that students, families, and teachers desperately need to succeed such as backpacks, folders, ear buds, mini white erase boards, counting blocks, binders, posters, and more. “The past two years have been especially challenging for families, and this difficult time has underscored the crucial role schools play in student’s well-being,” said Julia E. Green, Chair of Harter Secrest & Emery’s Diversity Committee. “It is our pleasure to help support students and schools in our community, while also honoring Dr. King’s legacy.”
The supply drive was a highlight of Harter Secrest & Emery’s annual MLK Jr. Day celebration, which also included a thought-provoking presentation by Dan Butler, the Equity and Advocacy Division Director of the Urban League of Rochester. Dan shared insight on the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through a 21st century lens, covering the state of race in the United States, the current polarized climate, the continued fight for voting rights, criminal justice reform, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice efforts.