REFLECTIONS ON MLK DAY OF SERVICE 2020

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​The age range was from 1 to 70+...
and they sorted, stuffed, folded, and packed, with a smile. It was a grand tribute to the spirit and essence of what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stood for! The power of the people made this happen and it was a beautiful sight.

The Back Story

It started at one of AfriWare Books, Gifts & Cultural Events' staff meetings when asked what we would do this year for Martin Luther King Day of Service. We'd tried a few other ideas, but we always try to improve from year to year. This year, Petrina McKinnor came up with the idea of making "Blessing Bags." We then planned, organized and executed the idea to the hilt including shopping, delivering, sorting and much more. We are most fortunate to have a strong and capable team to be able to move an idea into reality with such efficiency and speed.

We want to thank each and every one of our hands-on volunteers and donors from $5-$50, as well as those who dropped items off to be included in the blessing bags. We surpassed our goal of 100 blessing bags to be able to fill and deliver 116! Thank you!

Housing Forward

Housing Forward's Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator, Ms. Etta Martin, was delighted to receive the items. Each bag included: a bottle of water, a pair of socks, a bar of soap, a toothbrush, a tube of toothpaste, a granola or cereal bar, a pack of goldfish, cough drops, band-aids, facial tissue, chapstick, a comb, and an especially blessed note which included a quote from Chris Gardner (he went from homelessness to being a multi-millionaire), which read simply: Start where you are.
Ms. Martin said that while they usually reach outside of Maywood for donations, they were and are always very pleased to receive a donation from their neighbors within the boundaries of Maywood.

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