MLK Day of Service, 2012

 
(photos from MLK Day 2011)

The sun shone brightly on USG on January 16, 2012. Four hundred people gathered at the church for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. Their efforts joined with 50 people in Norristown and 125 people in Wilmington to brighten January for many people in need of help.

Coffee, bagels, and a short service began the day. Reverend Kent Matthies, a co-organizer of the event, greeted the visitors. Richard Redding and Gerry Whelan provided rousing and inspiring music and Reverend Morgan McLean recounted the life and principles of Dr. Martin Luther King.

Then the work began. Co-organizer Kevin Donahue directed the volunteers to over twenty projects: 

• 50 volunteers made 1,000 peanut butter & jelly sandwiches and assembled as many lunch bags, delivered to 8 area agencies.
• 20 volunteers assembled 250 breakfast bags, donated to an area agency.
• 15 volunteers assembled 250 snack bags for a neighborhood elementary school.
• 20 volunteers visited with elderly residents of local convalescent home.
• 15 volunteers went to a residential home for mentally challenged and played games and listened to a musical concert. 
• 20 volunteers cleaned up the streets of a local Germantown neighborhood. 
• 12 volunteers did a bulk mailing for a non-profit group. 
• 12 volunteers cleaned and organized a local homeless shelter. 
• 22 volunteers went to a local Boys & Girls club and sanitized toys in their child care rooms, made blankets and crocheted scarves for the homeless. 
• 10 volunteers went to NPIHN day center and cleaned, entered data into computer and recovered chairs. 
• 15 volunteers made 15 gallons of soup for local soup kitchen. 
• 75 volunteers made clay bowls for a fundraising event for a local non-profit. 
• 6 volunteers helped organize furniture in a warehouse. 
• 12 volunteers helped senior citizens with home projects. 
• 50 volunteers painted in a local elementary school. 
• 30 volunteers worked in a local school library barcoding and shelving books. 
• 50 volunteers worked in Norristown on a mural project, in a library and cleaning up a hospitality center. 
• Children and adults enjoyed a visit from firefighters of Ladder 21/Engine 63. 
• 100 winter coats were collected and donated to a local homeless shelter. 
• At least 25 volunteers helped on site with greeting and directing volunteers, preparing breakfast and lunch and providing help throughout the day.

Nancy Dearden developed and organized the projects in and around USG. Carolyn Scott gathered supplies and donations from two-dozen local merchants. Acme, Lebus, and Chestnut Hill Paint and Decor were major contributors ($500 or more). Other important contributors included Bimbo Bakeries, Baker Street, A & E Paper Goods, CVS in Chestnut Hill, High Point Café, Solebury Orchards, South Street Philly Bagel, Wal-Mart and Weavers Way. A & N Produce at Harvey St., Kilian's Hardware, ShopRite, Stanley's Hardware, Staples, Target, Top of the Hill Farmer's Market, Philly Pretzel Factory, Wawa, Wegman's, John C. Paul & Company, The Night Kitchen and Metropolitan Bakery also helped to make the day a great success.

Click Here to view a list of donors who support our annual MLK Day of Service. 

2011 Martin Luther King Day of Service