Unitarian Society of Germantown
Different People, Different Beliefs, One Faith.
2011 Martin Luther King Day of Service
Monday morning, January 17, 2011, people filled every seat in the church and stood in the aisles, all swaying to “Oh, I Woke Up This Morning With My Mind Stayed On Freedom.” It was the opening celebration for the Martin Luther King Day of Service. The church rocked with close to 400 people. Warmth and enthusiasm spread through the building.
Reverend Nate Walker of First Unitarian Church in Philadelphia made service very personal: it lifts the soul when the world looks bleak or life seems hopeless. Spirits soared with the music and singing. With spirits high, participants were directed to 24 projects in the church and the surrounding neighborhood.
The church grounds hosted six projects. Devoted hands made 1000 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and packed them with fruit and treats into kid decorated lunch bags. The lunches went to 10 area homeless agencies. More hands assembled 250 breakfast bags for 4 Meals on Wheels centers. Volunteers sent letters to state legislators, advocating for the disadvantaged. Others read books to children, teaching them about Martin Luther King. Still others prepared and served food to nearly 500 volunteers. 100 winter coats were collected and hundreds of items arrived for a charter school destroyed by fire.
The neighborhood projects were equally impressive:
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- 18 volunteers played games and interacted with elderly nursing home residents;
- 12 volunteers painted a nursing home hallway;
- 15 volunteers played games with mentally challenged residents at their facility;
- 40 volunteers scrubbed walls, cleaned and organized 2 Boys & Girls clubs;
- 10 volunteers sanitized toys for daycare;
- 10 stuffed NPIHN letters for bulk mailing;
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- 12 volunteers cleaned walls and did electrical mapping at historic Johnson House;
- 15 volunteers cleaned up and organized a homeless facility
- 100 ceramic soup bowls were made for NPIHN fundraiser;
- 60 quarts of soup were made;
- 30 Emergency winter kits assembled;
- 20 bags of trash collected from city streets;
- 8 volunteers moved and delivered furniture from NPIHN’s warehouse;
- 100 volunteers painted, cleaned and organized a Philadelphia public school.
The day ended with a lunch prepared by Main Line Unitarian volunteers. An inspirational film capped the event.
Thank you from Global Leadership Academy
The administration and staff of the Global Leadership Academy are highly appreciative and are deeply moved by USG's amazing response to their requests for supplies, equipment and personal checks following the tragic total destruction of their building in a recent fire. Many thanks, also, for the marvelous support of our minister, office staff, and volunteer transporters. After 1/30/11, gifts may be sent to: Dr. Naomi Johnson-Booker, Global Leadership Academy Charter School, Turner Middle School, 5900 Baltimore Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19143.
The administration and staff of the Global Leadership Academy are highly appreciative and are deeply moved by USG's amazing response to their requests for supplies, equipment and personal checks following the tragic total destruction of their building in a recent fire. Many thanks, also, for the marvelous support of our minister, office staff, and volunteer transporters. After 1/30/11, gifts may be sent to: Dr. Naomi Johnson-Booker, Global Leadership Academy Charter School, Turner Middle School, 5900 Baltimore Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19143.
Thank you from Greater Philadelphia Cares
Thank you so very much for supporting the work of Greater Philadelphia Cares in support of our 15th Annual Winter Coat Drive. Through your generosity over 10,000 men, women and children will be able to kept warm. We are grateful for your support and will remain committed to you and your generosity through our dedication to service.
© 2012 Created by Unitarian Society of Germantown.
