MEDIA, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — The Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service is Monday, Jan. 15, and officials in Delaware County are asking people to help them serve the community in an area King once called home.
In 1948, King stayed in the city of Chester while enrolled at Crozer Theological Seminary. For Delaware County’s second Day of Service, county leaders will celebrate the occasion in Chester, starting with a breakfast and peace march.
“We are going to walk through the city of Chester together as a group,” said Delaware County Council Chairperson Dr. Monica Taylor. “We also have acts of service, so we are going to do some community beautification projects all around the city of Chester.”
Volunteers will also be able to work on collaborative art pieces that will be displayed around the county. Taylor says more than 1,000 people volunteered last year in their inaugural celebration.
“It's really exciting. That’s what it’s been about here in Delaware County. That’s really what we do, we figure out ways to give back. We work with our community and this is just a great example of that.”
Another way officials plan to give back is distributing warming kits to people in need. Organizers are collecting items to include in the kits.
The event schedule also includes a luncheon for volunteers, as well as a “poetry slam for peace” program in the evening. Officials say the Day of Service is open for all to participate, but they encourage people to pre-register online.