Martin Luther King Day Activities, Volunteer Opportunities Planned By Livingston Group

LIVINGSTON, NJ — The Livingston Committee for Diversity and Inclusion has announced a roster of Martin Luther King Jr. Day events — from volunteer activities to arts and crafts to a remote demonstration of how to cook a meal to donate to your neighbors.

The activities, planned for this Monday, can be safely done with social distancing. Many events are for all ages.

The events "will celebrate and honor the life and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by hosting a Day of Service," the group said in a release. "This year, our theme is Caring for the Community."

Due to Covid-related concerns, the programs have been divided into two parts:

Virtual and Service Project Collections

1. Virtual — visit Facebook.com/LCDINJ:
1. Live Zoom arts/crafts/reading project by Livingston business owner Simone Anthony-Brown (Express Yourself Studios) will be streamed through the LCDI Facebook page.
2. Cooking presentation featuring young celebrity chef Matthew Smith demonstrating a baked ziti recipe as participants make the dish at home. Matthew’s completed dish will be donated to Livingston Neighbors Helping Neighbors (LNHN), and participants are encouraged to donate their completed dishes to LNHN for distribution to those in need within our community.
3. Speeches from members of the Livingston community, including the mayor of Livingston, which will be aired on LTV and Facebook

2. Service Project Collections, 1-3 p.m. at Livingston Town Hall, 357 S. Livingston Ave.:

Safely distanced service opportunities are available for Livingston residents of all ages. The LCDI has partnered with several local groups and organizations to help coordinate service projects. The following organizations will be participating:

1. Jewish Federation of Greater Metro-West will collect winter kits for MEND (Meeting Essential Needs with Dignity), a NJ organization that helps local food pantries. Residents are asked to donate complete winter kits, which should include new socks, hand warmers, travel packs of tissues, lip balm, packets of hot chocolate, and tea bags all in a Ziploc-type gallon bag.
2. Kiwanis Club will collect items to be used in hygiene kits for the homeless. Residents are asked to donate socks, hats, gloves, toothpaste, toothbrushes, mouthwash, soap, shampoo, deodorant, and body lotion (sample sizes where appropriate). Complete kits in ziploc-type gallon bags are welcome.
3. Lions Club will collect $25 and $50 ShopRite gift cards for donation to LNHN for distribution to needy families in our community.
4. Livingston Neighbors Helping Neighbors (LNHN) will collect the following items which are needed in the local pantry: toilet paper, paper towels, laundry detergent, rice, tomato sauce, canned tuna, chicken noodle soup, cooking oil, canned fruit and kids snack. They will also collect peanut butter and jelly sandwiches individually sealed in ziploc-type bags. In addition, LNHN will accept donations of baked ziti from participants in the virtual cooking program earlier in the day, which will be distributed to those who are food insecure in our community.
5. West Essex YMCA - Togetherhood Committee will collect old T-shirts, which will be used to create dog toys.
6. Young Men Service of Livingston (YMSL) will collect gently used coats for the homeless. The Youth Men's Service League (ymsl.org) is a national non-profit organization whose mission is to engage mothers and their high school sons in volunteering and serving those in need.
7. Livingston Police Department will collect school-aged children’s 8 ½” x 11” entries into the LPD’s anti-bullying poster contest. More information is available at livingstonnj.org/1502/Poster-Contest.
8. League of Women Voters will provide the opportunity for eligible individuals to register to vote.

Members of the Girl Scouts and National Charity League will assist the various organizations with their collection efforts throughout the day.

"Making time to volunteer for the MLK Day of Service is a great way to engage with your community while honoring the legacy of Dr. King," said the group. "Every act of kindness to those less fortunate in our greater community makes a world of difference."

For more information contact LCDI co-chairs Alyse Berger Heilpern and Saba Khan at lcdi.livingstonnj@gmail.com.

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