By John Green, Executive Director of A.D.R.O.P.
On Monday, January 19th, 2026, students from Villanova University came to ADROP in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King. They were doing service to mark his legacy, something ADROP has benefited from for many years.
I had requested 10 students, but 20 showed up since the weather was bad and some other service sites cancelled. On the agenda was painting an office and I was concerned that there would be, “too many cooks in the kitchen.”
What happened was actually quite remarkable. We all crammed into the office, selected roles of rolling, cutting in and managing splatter, and started talking. Where are you from? When do you graduate? You’ve been to ADROP before, tell us your story! The students told stories of their experiences with giving back and how it influenced their choices for furthering education and future profession. They asked me questions about running a nonprofit, how I chose the social work profession and where I find meaning in my work at ADROP.
It made me think about the difference between charity and service. While charity is important (and welcome), it establishes a power differential between the giver and the receiver. I have more and have decided to share. Service, on the other hand, brings people together in community. It fosters connection based on our shared experience of human collaboration. We come together as one, to accomplish something together for a shared purpose.
We spruced up a space together, student and staff, all holding the same tools to accomplish a goal. Service is what Dr. Martin Luther King and Pope Leo XIV call us to participate in to create community. Thanks again to the Villanova students who joined the ADROP community for their day of service.
John W. Green
Executive Director, A.D.R.O.P.
