"We prepare students to engage in the world that is and to help bring about a world that ought to be."
Friends Seminary's Day of Service: A Celebration of Community and Quaker Values
On Wednesday, April 30, the Friends Seminary community came together for its annual Day of Service, a beloved tradition rooted in Quaker values. Throughout the day, students, teachers, and staff across all divisions partnered with nonprofits across New York City, demonstrating their shared commitment to service, stewardship, and community engagement.
Service has long been an essential part of the Friends experience, and this year’s Day of Service was a powerful reminder of how collective action can bring about the world that ought to be.
Here is a reflection on how each grade participated and contributed:
Lower School: Partnering with Grassroots Grocery
Lower School students partnered with Grassroots Grocery, supporting dignified access to fresh produce for underserved communities in Upper Manhattan and the Bronx. With guidance from Upper School Service Committee members, students learned about the importance of preventing food waste and addressing food insecurity, embracing service through education and action. Together, students filled 5 refrigerators with fresh produce and made hundreds of grocery bags for the community members to fill with healthy food.
Middle School
Fifth Grade:
Fifth graders visited the historic Flushing Meetinghouse, the oldest house of worship in New York (built in 1694). There, they learned about its rich Quaker history and worked on beautification projects inside the Meetinghouse and in its gardens, connecting deeply with the legacy of Quaker stewardship. Students, together with members of the Flushing Meeting, reflected on the remonstrance that brought the Flushing Meeting to be and held a Meeting for Worship.
Fifth graders visited the historic Flushing Meetinghouse, the oldest house of worship in New York (built in 1694). There, they learned about its rich Quaker history and worked on beautification projects inside the Meetinghouse and in its gardens, connecting deeply with the legacy of Quaker stewardship. Students, together with members of the Flushing Meeting, reflected on the remonstrance that brought the Flushing Meeting to be and held a Meeting for Worship.
Sixth Grade:
Sixth graders volunteered with the Stuyvesant Park Neighborhood Association and participated in Environmental Justice Workshops led by Climate Advocate Christina Torres, combining hands-on environmental work with broader conversations about advocacy and care for the Earth. The day concluded with students making protest signs that are now hung in the gallery and by writing to our future Mayoral candidates about why environmental justice should be part of their political campaigns.
Sixth graders volunteered with the Stuyvesant Park Neighborhood Association and participated in Environmental Justice Workshops led by Climate Advocate Christina Torres, combining hands-on environmental work with broader conversations about advocacy and care for the Earth. The day concluded with students making protest signs that are now hung in the gallery and by writing to our future Mayoral candidates about why environmental justice should be part of their political campaigns.
Seventh Grade:
Seventh graders and their advisors supported the Central Park Conservancy, volunteering to maintain the park's natural beauty and taking a guided tour of Seneca Village, where they reflected on the histories of marginalized communities and the importance of remembrance. After learning about Seneca Village in their history class, this opportunity to visit the actual site offered students the opportunity to engage both their classwork and service learning.
Seventh graders and their advisors supported the Central Park Conservancy, volunteering to maintain the park's natural beauty and taking a guided tour of Seneca Village, where they reflected on the histories of marginalized communities and the importance of remembrance. After learning about Seneca Village in their history class, this opportunity to visit the actual site offered students the opportunity to engage both their classwork and service learning.
Eighth Grade:
Eighth graders traveled to Earth Matter on Governors Island, where they participated in composting initiatives and sustainable farming projects. Their day highlighted the significance of environmental responsibility and community partnership.
Eighth graders traveled to Earth Matter on Governors Island, where they participated in composting initiatives and sustainable farming projects. Their day highlighted the significance of environmental responsibility and community partnership.
Upper School
Ninth Grade:
Ninth graders, in collaboration with the Center for Peace, Equity, and Justice (CPEJ), took part in the Youth Philanthropy Initiative (YPI) finals. They presented researched nonprofits to a panel of judges, and several organizations received grants thanks to the students’ passionate advocacy. Through this work, students explored the nonprofit world as a form of service and justice. Click here to learn more.
Tenth Grade:
Tenth graders supported the Riverside Park Conservancy, working along the expansive park from 59th to 181st Street. Their efforts helped preserve and beautify this important urban green space, demonstrating the impact of collective stewardship.
Tenth graders supported the Riverside Park Conservancy, working along the expansive park from 59th to 181st Street. Their efforts helped preserve and beautify this important urban green space, demonstrating the impact of collective stewardship.
Eleventh Grade:
Some eleventh graders visited the Quaker Cemetery in Prospect Park, where they cleared debris and helped maintain the sacred grounds. After their work, students gathered for an outdoor Meeting for Worship, deepening their spiritual connection through reflection and gratitude. Other students visited the Food Bank for NYC in the Bronx, where they sorted thousands of meals and helped to run the food distribution.
Some eleventh graders visited the Quaker Cemetery in Prospect Park, where they cleared debris and helped maintain the sacred grounds. After their work, students gathered for an outdoor Meeting for Worship, deepening their spiritual connection through reflection and gratitude. Other students visited the Food Bank for NYC in the Bronx, where they sorted thousands of meals and helped to run the food distribution.
Twelfth Grade:
Twelfth graders took part in a wide-ranging service experience that addressed global health, food insecurity, and local community support:
Twelfth graders took part in a wide-ranging service experience that addressed global health, food insecurity, and local community support:
- At the AFYA Foundation, they sorted and organized medical supplies to support humanitarian aid in the Caribbean, including communities still rebuilding after Hurricane Maria.
- They partnered with Rethink Food to prepare nourishing meals for food-insecure communities, reinforcing the importance of sustainability, cultural celebration, and systemic change.
- They also volunteered at the Manny Cantor Center, where they organized the Free Store for Migrants, prepared meals, and decorated for a community prom, helping to create a welcoming and celebratory space for newly arrived families.
After Owls (After School Program):
Students in the After Owls program also participated in the spirit of service by making cards for God’s Love We Deliver, an organization dedicated to improving the health and well-being of people living with HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other serious illnesses. God’s Love We Deliver prepares and delivers nutritious, high-quality meals to those who, because of their illness, are unable to provide or prepare meals for themselves. They also offer illness-specific nutrition education and counseling to clients, families, care providers, and community organizations. Through their handmade cards, students shared messages of compassion and support for individuals facing serious health challenges.
Throughout the day, the Friends Seminary community embodied the Quaker testimonies of service, community, stewardship, and equality. Students engaged deeply with organizations addressing urgent needs, both local and global, building a stronger understanding of how service and solidarity can create a more compassionate and just world.
Reflecting on the day, Annah Heckman ’15, CPEJ Specialist for Community Engagement, shared:
“It was inspiring to see students step into the spirit of service with such energy and thoughtfulness. Having been involved in the success of the Day of Service for many years, it is incredibly meaningful to watch our students, teachers, staff, and parents live out Friends’ commitment to community in action.”
The 2025 Day of Service was a resounding success—not only for the tangible work accomplished, but for the spirit of unity, joy, and purpose that filled the day. Together, Friends Seminary reaffirmed its enduring commitment to service as an essential expression of its Quaker mission.
Friends Seminary actively promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism in all its programs and operations, including admissions, financial aid, hiring, and all facets of the educational experience. To form a community which strives to reflect the world’s diversity, we do not discriminate on the basis of race or color, religion, nationality, ethnicity, economic background, physical ability, sex, gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation. Friends Seminary is an equal opportunity employer.
Friends Seminary — the oldest continuously operated, coeducational school in NYC — serves college-bound day students in Kindergarten-Grade 12.
