Where to volunteer on MLK Day 2016

Where to volunteer on MLK Day 2016
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On Monday, the city of Philadelphia celebrates the memory ofcivil-rights legend Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr. — who would have been 86 this year—will be honored with the region’s largest day of service.

Read on for how to volunteer this MLK Day and pay tribute to King’s legacy.

Festivities start early. By 7:30 a.m., volunteers at Reading Terminal will be preparing 2,500 lunches for MLK 365—which will actually be used to feed the hundreds of volunteers participating in a Day of Service at Girard College.

The 21st Annual Greater PhiladelphiaMartin Luther King Jr. Day of Service will kick off at Girard College at 9 a.m., with Mayor Jim Kenney, Gov. Tom Wolf and Sen. Bob Casey all attending and participating in sorting and packing clothing donations for low income and unemployed men and women who are seeking employment.

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All day long, the Please Touch Museum will be providing service opportunities for kids who want to make get-well cards for patients at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and free hip-hop concerts on MLK Day. The African American Museum in Philadelphia is offering $2 tickets and free entry for groups all day.

At the National Constitution Center, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., will host pillow- andquilt-making volunteer activities, have free performances and serve as a drop-off site for donations.

The NAACP and Philadelphia Black Clergy will be hosting aMartin Luther King Jr. Day celebration at Bright Hope Baptist Church at 10:30 a.m.

RELATED:‘Reclaiming MLK’ protest draws thousands, of all races, to Center City

At noon, there will be a ceremonial ringing of Philadelphia’s prized Liberty Bell.Martin Luther King Jr.’s widow Coretta Scott King believed MLK Day should “commence each year at noon with the ringing of The Liberty Bell, a symbol of freedom, justice, and equality,” according to Mayor Kenney’s office.

At 5:30 p.m., POWER, an interfaith social justice group, will hold a prayer service in King’s honor in the City Hall courtyard.

All city offices will be closed. That includes the Free Library, all Parks & Recreation facilities, and all courts, except for arraignment court.All trash pick-up is canceled Monday and the rest of the week’s schedule will be delayed by one day.