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Black Rock Middle School

Off-Canvas

LMSD Honors Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at Annual Afternoon of Service

Ahead of the holiday weekend honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Lower Merion School District held its annual MLK Afternoon of Service, as hundreds of students, staff, family and friends gathered in the Lower Merion High School cafeteria to participate in an array of fun-filled, hands-on service projects.

The event’s success was made possible by the dedicated efforts of volunteers from the District’s Home & School Associations, student clubs and local organizations, whose efforts ensured a meaningful day of service that honored Dr. King’s legacy of community, compassion and service.

Attendees participated in an array of impactful projects tailored to address the needs of a diverse set of initiatives and nonprofits, including, but not limited to:

  • Assembling Birthday Boxes for the Ardmore Food Pantry and the Nationalities Service Center, spreading joy on special occasions.
  • Creating Blizzard Bags for senior citizens, providing essentials for harsh weather.
  • Curating Care Bags for homeless shelters, offering comfort and practical resources.
  • Collecting books, making bookmarks, and crafting cards for the As We Rise Foundation to promote literacy and encouragement.
  • Making Snuffle Mats for Francisvale Home for Smaller Animals and Providence Animal Shelter, enhancing the well-being of rescue animals.
  • Assembling Hope Bags for Fostering Hope PA to support children and families in foster care.
  • Designing thank-you cards for staff at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).
  • Sorting and collecting clothing for Cradles to Crayons to help children in need.
  • Making friendship bracelets and care packages for CHOP patients.
  • Crafting no-sew blankets for Project Linus, the Salvation Army, and CHOP, offering warmth and comfort.
  • Assembling Blessing Bags and sleep mats for the homeless.
  • Creating Valentine’s Day cards for CHOP, the Maternity Care Coalition, and veterans.
  • Building bird feeders with Harriton’s Environmental Club to support local wildlife.
  • Packing snack bags and designing cards for families at the Ronald McDonald House.
  • Painting starfish for the Starfish Project, a symbolic initiative of hope.

The cafeteria was bustling with activity as participants of all ages worked collaboratively on these projects. The Afternoon of Service served as a platform for fostering connections, reflecting Dr. King’s vision of unity and collective action.

Special thanks go to the countless volunteers and contributors whose enthusiasm and dedication made the event a success. Their efforts exemplified the spirit of giving back and creating a better, more inclusive world!

Students work on making Valentine's Day cards at the MLK Afternoon of Service
Two high school students give a thumbs up and peace sign as they smile for the camera
A photo of the Gladwyne HSA's  %22Birthday Boxes%22 station
Two students paint a birdhouse at the MLK Afternoon of Service
The LMHS cafeteria jam-packed with attendees
Four students work at the Smile 4 Philly station
The back of a woman's shirt reads %22MLK Day of Service%22
Four students work on making cards for patients at CHOP
Five students work at the %22Smile 4 Philly%22 station
Three students sell baked goods as a fundraiser
A young girl works on a no-sew blanket
Older students help out younger students at the Starfish Project station
A student poses with a tri-fold poster highlighting buildOn
Three students do arts and crafts at the Starfish Project's table
Two mothers pose for a picture with their sons
A student focuses intently as she paints an arts & crafts project
A student writes something down at the Make-A-Wish Foundation's table
An elderly woman making a bird-feeder
A student looks up and smiles as she works on a card for the Make-A-Wish foundation
A mother helps her daughter with one of the arts & crafts service projects
A mother and son work at organization donations for homeless shelters
A long table of students working on arts & crafts projects
Attendees of the MLK Afternoon of Service paint encouraging and kind words on rocks
A table full of attendees work on making cards for patients at CHOP
A father and son work on making cards for patients at CHOP
A child paints kind and encouraging words on a stone
Lots of bags in boxes of donations of food
An adult and teenager work on making cards for the staff at CHOP
High school students sort and fill bags of food
A student and her father pose for a picture
Three students work on making no-sew blankets
An elementary-age child helps two high schoolers make a no-sew blanket
A smiling mother, father and son pose for a picture
A high school student smiles as he holds up the worry doll he just made
A mother and son pose for a picture with a sign that reads: Senior Snow Day Bags
Three girls smile as they pose for a picture
A student smiles as he paints a portion of a bird house he is working on
A student smiles as she works on making a no-sew blanket
Three smiling students hold up the cards they made
Two students work on friendship bracelets at the Afternoon of Service
A smiling student paints a portion of a bird house
A woman helps a child work on her bird feeder
A father and his two sons work on an arts & crafts project
Penn Wynne's table for making care bags for foster care youth fills several large containers
A close up photo of cards with kind and encouraging words
A father and his two sons smile as they work on an arts & crafts project
A table of people working on cards for senior citizens
A child poses for a picture with her grandparents
A mother and her two sons smile for a picture
A father and son pose for a picture as they make cards for senior citizens
A smiling student gives a thumbs up
Three smiling students pose for a picture
A smiling student gives the peace sign while making cards for kids at CHOP
A pile of pans filled with baking supplies
A husband and wife work on creating cards together
Two smiling students work on a no-sew blanket
Four smiling mothers pose for a picture with three kids
A small child holds up a blue letter K
Three smiling high school students pose for a picture
A tri-fold poster with information about the As We Rise Foundation
Two smiling students work on an arts & crafts project
A student focuses intently on her arts & crafts project
Attendees work on bracelet making
A student searches for just the right bead for his bracelet
A smiling student holding two bird houses
Smiling students work on creating no-sew blankets
Three smiling high school students pose for a picture
A father and son smile as they work on bird houses
A mother and her two sons pose for a picture