Church sponsors MLK Day projects
Volunteers work on projects at home
BLUE BELL » Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, organizers of the MLK Day of Service 2021 are encouraging people to perform an act of kindness on Monday at St. John Lutheran Church.
More than 100 people have registered for the third annual event as of Thursday afternoon, according to Larry Erdman, a member of the church, located at 1802 W. Skippack Pike in Blue Bell.
The logistics of the event on Martin Luther King Jr. Day will go differently than in years past. To comply with health and safety regulations established throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers had to pivot.
“We’re asking people to look at all the projects on our website, find what interests you, it has a material list, purchase the materials for the number you want to make; it’s all up to you,” he said.
In years past, the typically in-person event would have people congregating to assemble different types of projects for a number of community organizations.
Last year, about 300 people participated, which Erdman estimated resulted in servicing approximately 1,000 people.
This time around, Erdman still encouraged people to lend a hand by doing their part at home. Interested participants can drop off their assembled items from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Monday in the parking lot under the canopy in front of the church.
“You can still make a project out of it, and help the people in our community that are hurting,” he said.
This year’s projects will range from greeting cards to birthday bags, a kit with items for a birthday cake, to “sockets,” which is a collection of items including toothpaste, a toothbrush, a snack bar, a cereal bar, and socks wrapped together with a ribbon, according to Erdman.
In addition to widespread and national initiatives such as Cards for Hospitalized Kids, Erdman said several local organizations are participating this year including the Montgomery County SPCA, the Mattie Dixon Community Cupboard in Ambler, KenCrest Transition Homes for Kids in Blue Bell, Daily Bread Community Food Pantry in Collegeville, and Cecil and Grace Bean’s Soup Kitchen Inc. in Norristown.
In order to try and make sure everything is “as contactless as possible,” volunteers will take the completed projects and get them to the appropriate nonprofits.
“We’re trying to make it as easy as possible for people to be involved,” he said.
To register, and learn more about the project’s for this year’s event, visit www. stjohnbluebell.org.