2023 MLK Day of Service & Learning

Organized by Many Helping Hands 365 Cambridge, in partnership with My Brothers Keeper Cambridge, and YWCA Cambridge.

5 Ways to Participate!

Don't come empty handed! We will be collecting new socks at the locations listed below on behalf of the 6th Annual Warm Hearts Warm Feet Sock Drive organized by Mayor Siddiqui’s Office and Vice-Mayor Mallon

1. MLK Day Community Walk~ Registration Encouraged

Walk and Weather Update!

Good Morning, MLK Day Community Walkers!

We are looking at the weather and in an effort to keep everyone safe, we are altering our walk plans a bit. For those intrepid and feel safe (its slippery out there!) we invite you to join us at 1pm at Starlight Square.

Together we will walk to Central Square Church where Dr. King spoke in 1960. From there, walkers can decide if they want to do the entire walk, or we suggest that you find your way, either on foot or by other transport, to one of our three other historic anchor sites along the route: Cambridge Community Center, Pentecostal Tabernacle South, and St. Augustines. Addresses are below.

Like last year, we will be guided by our Community Charter School of Cambridge, Cambridge Rindge and Latin, and Cambridge Youth Council highschool student volunteers! Look for the red MLK Day hats!

1:00-2:30 PM. Location: Starts at Starlight Square, 84 Bishop Allen Drive (Central Square)

Honor Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and work by joining with others on a Community Walk through the historic Black and Brown neighborhoods of The Coast, Riverside & Cambridgeport beginning at 1:00pm from Starlight Square. You are not required to register for the Walk although we encourage you to do so. Go to our website to see all our Community Walk partners. All are welcome!

2. In-Person Hands on Service Projects in Central Square~ Blanket and Scarf AND Valentine Making Projects

Registration Required. Sign up for ONE location!

2:00-5:00 PM. Locations: Cambridge City Hall, the Senior Center and the YWCA.

Register for ONE of the three specific locations. The same hands on projects will be at each location. We will be making Blankets and Scarves for homeless children, teens and adults AND Valentines for isolated elders, homeless adults, veterans and service men and women at each location.

Please note that only those who pre-register can join us this year in an effort to keep everyone healthy by limiting numbers.

If you are signing up for others, you will have to sign up each person. (We apologize, we know this is cumbersome. )

We will not hold our usual welcoming ceremony at 2pm so you are welcome to come as a pre-registered participant anytime between 2-5pm.

No walk-ins. We strongly recommend wearing masks and we will have masks on site for those who need them.

3. Collection Projects. Week-long, Hands-On, Off Site Projects Led by MHH365

Individuals and groups can REGISTER to lend a helping hand by leading service projects during MLK Day week.

Neighborhood FOOD Drives for Food Pantries in Cambridge, Somerville, Chelsea, and Lowell

Lead a Food Drive to collect for 14 local food pantries. We will: (1) assign you a food pantry, (2) provide you bags and a letter for you to attach to each bag to distribute to 25 neighbors and/or friends asking them to put donated food on their front step on MLK Day. You will receive information on where to pick up bags after you register. You will be responsible for distributing the bags, picking up the food donations on MLK Day and delivering the food donations to your assigned food pantry during MLK Day week.

Neighborhood CLOTHING Drive

Lead a Clothing Drive for local non-profits and More Than Words. We will: (1) assign you a non-profit and (2) provide you bags and a letter for you to attach to each bag that you can distribute to 25 neighbors and/or friends asking them to put donated clothing on their front step on MLK Day. You will receive information on where to pick up bags after you register. You will be responsible for distributing the bags, picking up the clothing donations on MLK Day and delivering the donations to your assigned non-profit during MLK Day Week.

Neighborhood BOOK Drive

Lead a Book Drive to collect books for local non-profits and our partner, More Than Words. We will (1) assign you a non-profit and (2) provide you bags and a letter for you to attach to each bag that you can distribute to 25 neighbors and/or friends asking them to put donated books on their front step on MLK Day. You will receive information on where to pick up bags after you register. You will be responsible for distributing the bags, picking up the book donations on MLK Day and delivering them to your assigned non-profit during MLK Day Week.

4. GROUP Blanket and Scarf AND Valentine Making Projects at Your Own Location

Deadline to sign up was: 1/10/23.

We hope you will join us for in person hands on service projects at City Hall, the Senior Center or the YWCA Cambridge. We will be making Blankets and Scarves for homeless children, teens and adults AND Valentines for isolated elders, homeless adults, veterans and service men and women at each location.

AND/OR join us for the Community Walk. see details above

Gather a GROUP of 10+ people at your own location to do a hands on service project on MLK Day or during MLK Week.

We will provide you supplies to make (1) Blankets and Scarves for homeless children, teens and adults in Cambridge and Somerville OR (2) Valentines for elders and homeless adults in Cambridge and Somerville. You will be responsible for picking up supplies, doing the project with your group and returning the finished project by January 22.

5. Conversations About Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., His Work, and His Continued Inspiration and the Challenges That Face Us Today.

• Wed Jan 18 8:00 -9:00 am Breakfast Conversation ZOOM only. No registration required. Zoom link HERE

• Thurs Jan 19 6:00 - 7:30pm . Cambridge Public Library with Annette Gordon-Reed. In person only. REGISTER HERE