Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?” MLK’s birthday, observed on January 17th this year, is a day dedicated to service, when Americans are encouraged to heed Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s words. It’s the only federal holiday that is designated as a day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer.
On this day we are called to step up to make our community more equitable and to build a community of Dr. King’s dreams. Whether it’s cleaning up a public space, mentoring someone, or helping the hungry or those in need, you can make a difference.
So how can we as Marple residents honor the legacy of Dr. King? There are plenty of opportunities right here in our neighborhood as well as in Delaware County and the Philadelphia area.
at Kids Against Hunger
Photo courtesy of Heather Griesser-Lapierre
Kids Against Hunger
Pack meals with Kids Against Hunger (KAH)! KAH is a non-profit humanitarian organization whose mission is to provide fully nutritious food to impoverished children and families around the world and locally. The meals provide a stable nutritional base by which recipient families can move their families from starvation or food insecurity to self-sufficiency. KAH Philadelphia, which is run by Broomall resident Heather Griesser-Lapierre, is conveniently located at 1101 Sussex Blvd in Broomall. Each week thousands of volunteers pack meals at this location and they will be packing meals on MLK day this year. Bring a friend, your team or your organization.
Media Fellowship House
The Media Fellowship House located at 302 S. Jackson St, Media, is holding their 4th Annual Toiletry Drive on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. This drive benefits local women’s shelters. They are asking for the following items: body soap, hand soap, detergent, hand sanitizer, lip balm, deodorant, feminine products, baby wipes, diapers, shampoo and conditioner. Donations can be dropped off between 1–3pm on Monday, January 17th and they are also looking for volunteers. Call 610-809-1487 or visit www.MediaFellowshipHouse.org for more information.
MLK 2022 Community Day of Service at Penn State Brandywine
The Center for Ethics and Civic Engagement at Penn State Brandywine is hosting a morning of service to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and legacy. The public is invited to join their students, faculty and staff with a variety of service projects as well as crafts and educational activities. All ages are welcome for this family friendly event.
MLK Day of Service in Wissahickon Valley Park
By volunteering here on MLK day, you can give back to the park, the creek and the plants and animals. The Friends of the Wissahickon (www.FOW.org) is sponsoring this litter clean-up. Lincoln Drive will be closed that day so groups can help make this well-traveled section of the park cleaner.
For more volunteer opportunities in the Philadelphia region, visit the AmeriCorps website at www.AmeriCorps.gov. For the past 25 years, AmeriCorps has been leading the volunteer effort and can help you find an opportunity near you by using their VolunteerMatch feature, which can help you find volunteer opportunities with organizations such as Just Serve, Mentor, the National Park Service and more.
No matter how you choose to honor Dr. King’s legacy on this day, remember his words: “Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve.”