Their holiday is all about volunteering

IT WAS JUST a little thing, some paint on a window in a school cafeteria.

But to Brandyn White, a student volunteer from Brooklyn College, his day of service at a Harlem elementary school did a lot more for him than for any of the people he was trying to help.

“Different schools and community groups are coming together to really make a difference,” said White, 21, a volunteer for New York Cares, which was hosting an outreach event to celebrate Martin Luther King Day.

“Martin Luther King dedicated his whole life to serving others and giving back to places and people that really needed it. This is a testament to that. This is a school that really does need this type of help and restoration. When it comes to serving the community, you can’t really take the day off.”

White was one of 250 volunteers who visited Public School 194 on W. 144th St. on Monday, painting windows and lockers, organizing library books and putting together care packages for the needy.

Emily Allen was supervising volunteers who were making dozens of baby blankets to be given to the New York Foundling organization.

“I was in the era with Martin Luther King,” Allen said. “I was in my teens. I followed the march, the movement. So this is a special day for me, not in remembrance of what he did, but what we’re moving forward to continue to do, in his legacy.

“It’s not just for a movement. It’s to help others. We work all week. So when I get a day off, I like to be useful. I like to see what I can do to help improve that community. We want to show that . . . there are people out there who are monitoring them and we do care about their welfare and well-being.”

Oana Gherman, 31, an English as a second language teacher from New Jersey, said she was impressed with the turnout.

“I wasn’t expecting so many volunteers,” Gherman said as she painted windows in the cafeteria. “I think it represents Martin Luther King by pretty much giving up your day off . . . to do something for their community. It’s a good feeling.

“It’s just something you should be doing just because you can.”