Volunteers assemble “Welcome to America” bags, which include bilingual books, toys and crayons, as part of the Martin Luther King Day of Service at St. John Lutheran Church in Blue Bell in 2019. (MediaNews Group file)
Organizations are gearing up for Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a number of service opportunities planned across Montgomery County.
The Wissahickon Faith Community will kick off programming opportunities with a solidarity walk beginning at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 18 at Wissahickon High School, located at 521 Houston Road in Lower Gwynedd Township. A remembrance service will follow at 4 p.m. at the nearby Bethlehem Baptist Church, 712 Penllyn Pike, in Spring House. Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church Rev. Alyn E. Waller will serve as keynote speaker and the service will feature a performance from the Enon Tabernacle Mass Choir.
School plan service events
North Penn School District schools plan several service projects and other programs to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Gwyn-Nor Elementary School is collecting clothing, toys, and non-perishable food for a family in Jamaica who was affected by Hurricane Melissa in October, while Gwynedd Square Elementary Elementary is creating care packages with drawings and cards for the Code Blue Shelter in Lansdale and Jenna’s Blessing Bags.
Nash Elementary School is partnering with Mitzvah Circle and is collecting gently used clothing. The donated items will be sorted and organized by students, providing a hands-on community service experience.
At Bridle Path Elementary, each grade level is participating in a different service project, including creating colorful posters, supporting NICU families, and creating birthday kits for Liz’s Birthday Closet. Kulp Elementary School student council is leading an “I Have A Dream” activity, encouraging students to share their own dreams, in line with Martin Luther King Jr.’s emphasis on kindness and community.
In Colonial School District, more than 200 students are expected to volunteer with the school district’s annual Day of Service from 10:30 a.m. to 1:45 a.m. on Monday in the Plymouth Whitemarsh High School cafeteria.
“We hope that this day inspires students to serve not just on MLK Day, but throughout the year in order to make a positive difference in our community,” Community Relations Coordinator Jessica Lester said in a statement.
Activities include making bracelets for Make-A-Wish patients, creating an MLK mural, recycling t-shirts into pet toys for the local SPCA, raising funds for the U.N. World Food Programme, and sorting donations for Cradles to Crayons. Montgomery Elementary School in North Penn is also making cards of encouragement for the same nonprofit dedicated to providing clothing and supplies to students.
The organization will honor King’s legacy with the MLK Donation Drive. Organizers will have drop off locations across the greater Philadelphia area, including several in Montgomery County.
Those interested in participating can bring clothing, coats and shoes on Jan. 19 to the following local sites: Ambler YMCA, 1325 McKean Road, Ambler; Main Line Reform Temple, 410 Montgomery Ave., Wynnewood; Spring Valley YMCA, 19 W. Linfield-Trappe Road, Royersford; Trident Land Transfer Company, 721 Skippack Pike, Suite No. 100, Blue Bell; and the Willow Grove YMCA, 3300 Davisville Road, Hatboro.
Visit cradlestocrayons.org/philadelphia/mlk/ for more information.
Norristown, Gladwyne, Lansdale
In Norristown, the Center Theater will feature King as organizers celebrate MLK Day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Jan. 19 at the Charles Blockson Exhibition, located at 208 DeKalb St. A service project is scheduled from 10 a.m. to noon. In addition to a “special exhibit” and scavenger hunts, the cultural center will offer docent-led tours of the exhibit on Blockson, a famed activist, historian and Norristown native and show a MLK featured film from 2-3 p.m. in the theater. Visit thecentretheater.com/gallery/#popup1 to learn more.
Those looking to give back to the environment can participate in a habitat restoration event from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Jan. 19 at the Riverbend Environmental Education Center, 1950 Spring Mill Road, in Gladwyne.
“Join us this Martin Luther King Jr. Day as we honor Dr. King’s legacy through hands-on service that strengthens our local environment. This year’s project focuses on improving wildlife habitat and restoring the health of our natural areas,” read an event description.
Hosted by the Gladwyne-based nonprofit, volunteers will work to remove invasive plants, clear the landscape around a tree planting site and provide a “healthier habitat for native plants and wildlife,” according to an online event registration.
“Whether you’re a regular volunteer or brand new to habitat projects, this is a meaningful way to give back, build community, and make a visible impact on the land,” the event description states.
Visit eventbrite.com/e/mlk-day-of-service-habitat-restoration-project-tickets-1977984809812 to register for the event.
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lansdale will hold a service event on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The fourth annual MLK Day of Service-Rise Against Hunger is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday at the church, located at 1000 W. Main St. Volunteers will assemble packages containing dehydrated vegetables, minerals, rice, soy, and vitamins, which will be sent to “a remote community overseas.” Children ages 5 years and older are encouraged to participate. Visit trinitylansdale.com/event/mlk/ to register. Additionally, Hatfield Elementary School students will make Kindness Placemats for the church’s free Monday community meals.The Reporter staff writer Dan Sokil contributed to this report.
