Mastery Molina students joined forces with the City of Camden for the Camden Strong Community Cleanup at Whitman Park. This event, organized by the city and led by Mayor Victor Carstarphen, brought together residents, local organizations, and corporate partners, including The Campbell’s Company, to help beautify the neighborhood and strengthen community ties.

During the event, Molina’s middle school students grabbed rakes, shovels, and wheelbarrows to spread mulch, clean debris, and level out the park grounds. Some even had the special opportunity to walk through the neighborhood alongside Mayor Carstarphen, cleaning up streets and connecting with community members along the way.

The students not only made a visible impact but also walked away with a deeper understanding of the power of service.

“Not many communities offer this level of support, so it’s inspiring to be a part of it. We’re not just helping ourselves—we’re helping others who want to do this too,” said Logan, an eighth-grade student at Molina Elementary.

The City of Camden’s commitment to volunteerism and civic pride was on full display, and we are grateful to Mayor Carstarphen and the city for including our students in this powerful initiative. Events like this show our students that they can be changemakers—and that even a few hours of service can go a long way in creating a cleaner, more connected community.