Sid Jacobson JCC invites members of the community to participate in an outdoor day of service in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday, Jan. 17, 1-3 pm at the JCC.
Organized by the JCC’s Center for Community Engagement and funded by UJA-Federation, the day offers various safe ways to give back including a drive-through assembly event creating care packages for local seniors, a New York Blood Center blood drive, and donation collections to benefit local organizations.
“On MLK Day we are planting seeds for a brighter tomorrow and more just society,” says Susan Berman, Director of the Center for Community Engagement, Sid Jacobson JCC. “We look forward to engaging community members of all ages in service and providing opportunities for continued volunteerism throughout the year.”
The outdoor service project taking place from 1-3 pm will be a safe drive-through assembly event creating 240 care packages for local seniors.
After the packages are assembled, volunteers will be given the name and address of a senior for delivery. All volunteers are asked to purchase one easy-to-grow indoor plant to add to each care package (ex: Succulents, Aloe Vera, Ferns, English Ivy, Spider Plant).
At the same time, also outdoors, the JCC will be collecting donations to benefit local organizations including: new or gently used children’s books to benefit Book Fairies, used cell phones to benefit Verizon Wireless’ HopeLine for domestic violence, clothes and household goods to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters Long Island, non-perishable food to benefit SJJCC’s Community Needs, used eyeglasses to benefit the Lions Club, and gently used shoes to benefit NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness).
From 1-7 pm that day the JCC will host an indoor New York Blood Center blood drive in response to an emergency blood shortage.
All donors will be entered in a raffle to win a Mirror Home Gym and 12 months of membership. Appointments are preferred, walk-ins will be welcomed if space permits. In accordance with SJJCC Covid protocol, all donors must be fully vaccinated and masks are required
To learn more about the day or to register to volunteer or donate blood, visit sjjcc.org/mlkday or contact Linda Samet, Supervisor of Volunteer Services, Sid Jacobson JCC, at lsamet@sjjcc.org or 516.484.1545 ext. 149.
