On January 16, 2012 Americans across the country will honor the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King. Led by the Parents Association and chairperson Naomi Leach, the Greene Street community will come together for a “Day On, Not a Day Off.” Nearly 300 people, from toddlers to grandparents, are anticipated at Greene Street Friends School to participate in a variety of service projects.
MLK Day Program
8:30 am Light breakfast in the Dining Room
9:00 am Welcome and Orientation in the Meeting Room
Music by the GSFS a cappella group Quaker Notes
Excerpts of a speech by Dr. King
9:40 am Service Projects – various locations
12:00 pm Light Lunch for all Volunteers
Here is a list of Greene Street Service Projects
Red Cross Blood Drive
Blood is always a pressing need and it is a gift that money cannot buy. Greene Street adults and friends over 17 can donate blood to sustain the critical blood supply in our community that helps save lives. The American Red Cross will administer the blood drive. Please schedule your appointment in advance. Help us reach our goal of 50 pints by scheduling your appointment today! Go online to: www.redcrossblood.org. Click on the blue “Make a Blood Donation” button and then enter Sponsor Code 9852.
Books on Tape for Philadelphia Reads
The mission of Philadelphia Reads is to strengthen the literacy skills of Philadelphia's youngest and neediest school children by providing mentors and resources for in-school and out of school programs. GSFS middle school students can help by making audio recording of popular picture books and early readers. Sign up in advance with Kiri, Beth or Marty and join us on Monday to make the recording. We’ll also donate a copy of each book/CD to Greene Street’s own literacy resource center.
Art Project
We will be making gift bags for Cradles to Crayons. Cradles to Crayons provides children up to age 12 living in homeless and low-income situations with the essentials they need to feel safe, warm, ready to learn, and valued. Volunteers of all ages will use collage and drawing supplies to decorate bags that will then be used to package gifts for children in need.
Aid for Friends Breakfast Bags
We will pack breakfast bags again for Aid for Friends, a nonprofit organization that serves needy, isolated shut-ins, primarily the elderly, in the greater Philadelphia area. Our families will donate non-perishable foods and on MLK Day we’ll pack them up, along with a hand-made card or note. This is a great activity for our younger volunteers, who love running from table to table filling the bags. Learn more at www.aidforfriends.org. Aid for Friends says the breakfast bags will really help them get through the year with the economy suffering so badly.
Supplies for Mennonite Central Committee
This year we will pack school kits (notebooks, rulers, colored pencils) for the Mennonite Central Committee. MCC is a wonderful nonprofit organization that sends desperately needed people food and materials to communities recovering from war and natural disasters. Lean more at www.mcc.org.
Paper Flower Making
We will make paper flowers for patients at our Stapeley in Germantown, a local nursing home. These beautiful handmade flowers will surely brighten the day of a resident at Stapeley.
