Start the weekend with service, and end with reflection and learning!
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Start the new year off feeling great by doing good! There are 13 projects you can sign up for, some able to be completed at-home and some to be completed on January 14th at 9:00am at the First Congregational Church. If you choose to work at home, indicate that when you sign up and a volunteer will send you complete instructions for your chosen project(s). Volunteers will also be at the January 14th workshops with instructions and supplies.
Choose one or several projects:
Knit or Crochet Hats for adults or children.
Make no-sew fleece blankets for the Linus Project.]
Make cards for local health care workers.
Sew dresses for girls around the world.
Decorate positive bookmarks for our neighbors.
Prepare and bag meals for Lazarus House in Lawrence.
Decorate the Peace Tree with your own leaf.
Move and pack household items at Mission of Deeds.
Decorate and fill individual bags with snacks for DPW, RFD, RPD and Pantry workers.
Write a Valentine’s Day card for LGBTQ+ incarcerated people in Massachusetts.
Sort and move items at the Reading Food Pantry.
Donate money towards grocery gift cards for the Pantry.
Donate pajamas and diapers for children in the care of DCF.
To sign up for projects: https://tinyurl.com/MLK2023SIGNUP
To donate to the Reading Food Pantry: Go to Gift Cards for the Food Pantry 2023
Please contact info@ReadingCares.org with any questions. Thank you!
Monday, January 16
Come to the RMHS Performing Arts Center at 9:30am for a community breakfast followed by a special interfaith invocation by the Reading Clergy Association, performances by student groups including Mixed Choir and RMHS Jazz Band, an art exhibit, and more! This year’s guest speaker is Lynnette Marshall, co-founder and Director of Learning and Collaboration for The Flourish Collective, a racial and social justice organization. This year’s program theme is “True peace is the presence of justice”. Everyone is welcome to attend this commemoration of the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his ongoing influence in the world.
For more details, contact the Office of Equity & Social Justice, oesj@ci.reading.ma.us. The event location is wheelchair accessible and ASL translators are available on request. We look forward to seeing you there!