Monday, January 16th is Martin Luther King, Jr. National Day of Service.

The legacy and impact of Martin Luther King, Jr. continues to grow each year and his impact has increased as more Americans embraced the idea that citizenship involves taking an active role in improving communities.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day became a national holiday in 1983, and in 1994, President Clinton signed the Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday and Service Act. This made the holiday a day of community service. It is the only federal holiday designated as a National Day of Service and is meant to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities.

No matter what kind of volunteering or community support you want to provide, opportunities abound! As a way to remember and honor Martin Luther King, Jr., take a look at Global Citizen, click on “find a project” and search in your area for a service project that feels right for you. You can also check local colleges and universities for ways to participate in marches, gatherings, and community events that celebrate MLK and promote a culture of service.

Commit to service. All of us can volunteer, donate to worthy causes, and try to make a difference in our communities. Those who commit are the people who continue to answer Martin Luther King, Jr.’s question:

“What are you doing for others?”

We had so many fun costumes throughout our stores for Halloween –

It wasn’t easy choosing the finalists! Our Village voted the team members

below as our individual and group contest winners for 2022!

 

Our individual costume winner is Ashley Grabowski,

a super cute scary-crow from Store 443, Stirling ShopRite.

Great make up Ashley, thanks for joining in the fun!

Waleska Rockwell, Cheryl Koreivo & Madeline Shallop from Store 447,

Hillsborough ShopRite are looking great!

Our group costume winners – the ‘hocus pocus” group…

Shanah Tovah U’Metukah! This Sunday, September 25th, marks the first day of celebrations for the Jewish New Year- beginning at sundown and ending at nightfall on Tuesday. This holiday commemorates the creation of the world and marks the beginning of the Days of Awe, a 10-day period of introspection and repentance which leads into Yom Kippur. It’s one of the holiest days of the year for those of the Jewish faith!

How can I wish a happy Rosh Hashanah to my fellow team members who observe? You can say, “Shanah Tovah U’Metukah!”, which means “good year”. It’s a commonly spoken greeting on this day and you can show your co-workers you care about them with a simple acknowledgment. Happy Rosh Hashanah!

We wish everyone celebrating a joyous and peaceful holiday spent with those you love most.

Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.

Started as just a week-long celebration in 1968, it was expanded into a 30-day period by President Reagan in 1988. The day of September 15th is significant because it is the anniversary of geographies such Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua claiming their independence. Mexico and Chile celebrate their national days of independence on September 16th and September 18th respectively. Also, Día de la Raza, which is October 12, falls within this 30 day period.

Why do we celebrate? There are an estimated 56.6 million Hispanics living in the United States. This equates to about 17.6% of the country population. Hispanic Americans have contributed to American life since the American Revolution, and have fought in every war since. Hispanic Americans continue to have representation in our country- as small business owners, veterans, teachers, doctors, store leadership, department managers, among many other professions. Hispanic Heritage month allows us to recognize their contribution and achievements to our national story.

How is Hispanic Heritage Month celebrated? The month is celebrated in a large variety of ways. As several other celebratory holidays fall during this month — such as the independence days of several Latin American countries — concerts, parades, food fairs, festivals, dancing, and more are organized throughout. Educational events like art exhibitions take place as well, highlighting important Latino heroes in history. Cooking is another big way to celebrate! From pull-apart arepas filled with savory ingredients to learning the Spanish word for meatball – albóndiga – before digging into one! If you are a big fan of Mexican food, cook with and discuss the spices and ingredients that make these dishes special, such as cumin and paprika, corn, chili peppers, shredded beef and chicken, beans, tomatoes and more.