We were thrilled to be joined by over 200 volunteers for our third annual MLK Day of Service honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.!
This year, volunteers participated in projects all over Greater Boston. At the Blackstone Elementary School in the South End, volunteers rolled up their sleeves to paint walls, clean windows, sort library books, and make inspirational signs to hang around the school.
Downtown, volunteers worked at the St. Francis Day Shelter prepping and serving lunch to their clients. In total our volunteers served 215 meals on MLK Day.
In the afternoon, several young adults had an engaging conversation about Bayard Rustin and the civil rights era with seniors at Hebrew SeniorLife in Brookline.
In Dorchester, JCRC partnered with Rebuilding Together Boston, engaging 81 volunteers to refurbish and repaint the interior of The Second Church Community Enrichment Center in the heart of Codman Square.
View the full photo gallery here!
Thank you to all who volunteered and we hope to see you next year!
Hebrew SeniorLife
Documentary and Discussion: “Brother Outsider” – Join residents from HSL in viewing and discussing a documentary about Bayard Rustin and his involvement in the Civil Rights Movement.
Location: 100 Centre Street, Brookline
Time: 1:30pm-4:00pm
Open to young adults
St. Francis Soup Kitchen
The first shift will be helping to prepare the lunchtime meal and get the soup kitchen ready for lunch service. The second shift will be serving the meal to clients. St. Francis is a day shelter in Downtown Crossing that serves between 300-350 people daily.
Location: 39 Boylston Street, Copley Square Boston
Shift one: 9:00am-11:00am – FULL
Shift two: 11:00am-1:30pm – FULL
Open to all volunteers aged 18+
St. Stephens Youth Programs – FULL
Volunteers will be working on beautification and revitalization projects throughout the elementary school. After volunteering, there will be a lunch and discussion about MLK and why it has become a day of volunteering.
Location: Blackstone Elementary School, 380 Shawmut Ave, South End Boston
Time: 8:30am-1:30pm (optional lunch and discussion from 12:00pm-1:30pm)
Open to all ages including families, teens, and young adults
Jewish Vocational Services – Lynn, MA – MANY SPOTS AVAILABLE!
Join Mayor McGee, JVS, and local community partners to connect Lynn community members with free resources from JVS. We are spreading the word about JVS programming that includes adult education, skill building, and employment services. Sign up for one, two or three hours of volunteer work, and then spend time at headquarters, 10 Church Street, where we will provide lunch, coffee and hot chocolate, along with music and other festivities.
You can help on MLK Day by:
- Spreading the word through one-on-one conversations with people in the community
- Distributing flyers detailing free JVS services
Location: Lynn City Hall, 3 City Hall Square, Lynn
Time: Kickoff at 10:30am featuring Mayor McGee and JVS CEO Jerry Rubin
Volunteering will take place between 11am-3pm. Sign up for one, two, or three hours of volunteering.
Open to all ages including families, teens, and young adults
Rebuilding Together Boston
Both shifts will be working to revitalize the interior of the Second Church Enrichment Center. Tasks include: painting, light wood working and carpentry, floor and railing repairs. All skills levels –including no skills – are welcome. The Second Church Enrichment Center is a nondenominational community center that serves 850 people annually, including 250 children. (This project is a collaboration between the JCRC and Rebuilding Together Boston, and made possible by a Massachusetts Service Alliance grant.)
Location: The Second Church Enrichment Center, 44 Moultrie Street, Codman Square Dorchester
Shift one: 9:00am-12:30pm – FULL
Shift two: 1:00pm-4:30pm – FULL
Open to any volunteer over 16 years old without a chaperone. Each volunteer aged 12-15 must have a chaperone.
Families looking for additional opportunities on MLK Day can be in touch with Shoshana Edelson, Young Adult Social Justice Coordinator.
For more information, contact Emily Reichman, Director of Service Initiatives, or Shoshana Edelson, Young Adult Social Justice Coordinator.
