9th Annual MLK Day Of Service In Highland Park

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — To honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the federal holiday that celebrates his birthday is the only one that includes a service component. In Highland Park, residents and local organizations come together for an annual community-wide day of service.

More than 1,300 people are expected to turn out for the event starting at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 15 at the Recreation Center of Highland Park, 1207 Park Avenue West.

The day of service is organized by the city's human relations commission and park district, with help from dozens of local groups. All ages are invited to the event, which offers an opportunity to convert "community concerns into citizen action," according to organizers.

There will be more than 30 service projects available to participate in, including helping those less fortunate, supporting environmental causes and aiding veterans and military families.

Secretary of State Jesse White will speak about his experiences as a student of Dr. King, and the Jesse White Tumblers will perform. Lynne Epps of Highland Park will perform a a portrait of Dr. King and the Edgewood chorus will perform a variety of civic minded songs.

The day will consist of the following activities and opportunities:

• Edgewood Middle School Chorus will sing songs of Freedom
• Highland Park High School Jazz Band will play Patriotic songs
• Jordon Boys & Girls Club will conduct the Bucket Feet Project
• Assemble toiletries for local shelters (PADS & North Shore Health Clinic, USO). If you have toiletries to donate, please bring them the day of the event. Donations from Drs.Silberstein Ortho, Drs. Burns and Bindonated.
• Moraine Twp. Food Pantry collection, sorting & bagging Amy Zisook
• Decorate squares for Project Linus (projectlinuschicago.webs.com) quilts going to hospitalized children: Lincoln School Service Club
• Write letters to soldiers in the hospital and children of the military as part of the Hero Pack project. American Legion
• Have attendees decorate tablecloths to donate to the USO. We will make some for different holidays coming up like Valentines Day, Memorial Day, etc...Wayne Thomas PTO
• Make Valentine's for soldiers (Operation Support Our Troops):Braeside PTO
• Help scoop non-perishable soup ingredients into bags which they will label and include recipes for the Moraine Twp. Food Bank. (Red Oak School PTO—Julie Creinin)
• Ravinia's CARE Club will be providing the materials to make bookmarks that will be used at Bernie's Book Bank in Lake Forest
• Color paper dolls to raise awareness about the devastation that has occurred because of the Genocide in Darfur and throughout Africa—Elm Place School Reach for Change
• I AM A STAR Somalia campaign activity run by the Amer. Refugee Committee
• Make dog toys as part of the Chicagoland Lab Rescue: Solel Congregation
• Ravinia Festival will recycle instruments for donation for those in need
• Color flowers and make flower pots for Highland Park, Hospital: Edgewood PTO
• GIVE: Decorate flip flops for youth in India: Daniella Cohen
• Environmental table: Story of Green Shields, Highland Park High School students
• Write well wishes and words of encouragement for Recorders of Hope (a project collecting recorders to distribute to children with HIV/AIDS in 3rd world countries): Natalie & Joey Sereda
• Ceramic Tile project to create murals for Nursing/Assisted Living Residences. Sponsored by Amanda Greenstein, Right at Home
• Working Bikes organization will be collecting and repairing gently used bikes
• Highland Park Volunteer Pool will run the sign in table and distribute information
• North Shore Health Clinic will have information on their services and offer Blood Sugar screenings
• HP Library will decorate book bags and fill with books for the North Shore Health Clinic (need picture books for the bags—can bring the day of the event)
• Heller Nature Center will make bird garland to feed the birds during winter
• Highwood Fire Dept. will provide Fire Safety coloring books & do demonstrations
• Write “Dear Camper” notes for the SCOPE (Summer Camp Opportunities Promote Education) project to welcome the students to camp.
• Girl Scouts of Highland Park: Pet Adoption Awareness and make animal chews
• Make a cover for Rotary Shelter Box which provides shelter and supplies for people who have lost their homes do to disasters Rotary International
• Central Ave. Synagogue will have a display and artifacts on Black-Jewish Relations.
• HP Forward will distribute info. And make banks
• Family Services table
• Highland Park Legal Aid Clinic will be offering information and answering questions
• American Cancer Society Awareness table
• Rotary Shelter Box exhibit
• Lions Club : hearing tests
• Human Rights Watch project

The Moraine Township Food Pantry is collecting food, Lions Club is accepting glasses, Ravinia Foundation is collecting instruments, the USO is collecting toiletries and Working Bikes is collecting bicycles.

The food pantry will be collecting donations at the door. Donors can simply pull up in a car and volunteers will collect donations directly.

Want to contribute, but not sure what to bring? Food May NOT be expired, nor in a glass jar. According to the Moraine Township Food Pantry, the most needed items are:

• Olive oil
• Pasta sauce
• Canned tomatoes , whole or diced
• Canned fruit
• Canned chicken
• Hamburger Helper or Sloppy Joe mix
• Crackers – all kinds
• Soup – all kinds
• Cereal – all kinds
• Oatmeal
• Pinto beans, 1 lb bags
• Applesauce
• Coffee, tea, hot chocolate
• Ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise
• Jelly, jam
• Soap, shampoo
• Toothpaste, toothbrushes
• Toilet paper
• Cleaning supplies
• Feminine hygiene products (Edgewood Middle School's Girl Up Club is partnering with PADS of Lake County to collect and donate sanitary products of all kinds to be delivered to the shelter in January. Drop off any items at the Edgewood front office through Tuesday, Jan. 16, or look for the table with the bright orange tablecloth at the HP Rec Center on Monday.)
• If you would like to help as a driver, transporting food between the Recreation Center and the Food Pantry, please email TrusteeZisook@morainetownship.org if you can help!

To volunteer please contact the Volunteer Pool of Highland Park at info@volunteerpoolhp.org. For more event information, please contact Terry Grossberg at trpltung@gmail.com or 847.204.4815