Thousands in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware Commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with Service and Celebration

Over the weekend of January 19 and 20, 2025, people in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware honored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by helping others and celebrating his legacy.

In New Jersey, Jersey Cares and AmeriCorps organized the Jersey Cares MLK Day of Service.

Around 1,800 volunteers came together to work on projects that supported their communities.

The volunteers gave out winter coats to families who needed them.

They also raised awareness about fairness and equality through social justice activities, including creating care packages for those grieving the loss of loved ones to offer them comfort.

Additionally, the volunteers helped adults improve their reading skills.

Another project focused on providing supplies to care for service animals.

Since 1994, when MLK Day was made a National Day of Service, it has encouraged Americans to help others.

Jersey Cares partnered with local groups and schools to figure out the community’s needs.

AmeriCorps, which supports service programs across the country, also played a big role in making the event happen.

In Pennsylvania, the 30th Annual Greater Philadelphia MLK Day of Service was the largest event of the weekend.

Known as the oldest MLK Day celebration in the country, it drew people from all over.

This year, the event also celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act.

Girard College in Philadelphia’s Fairmount area was the main location, hosting a variety of activities for the 16th year.

At Girard College, volunteers packed toiletry kits for underserved communities.

Independence Blue Cross sponsored this project, and the kits were handed out through mini-City Halls set up by Mayor Cherelle Parker’s Office of Neighborhood and Community Engagement.

Another activity, led by Mural Arts Philadelphia, let people create posters in a printmaking workshop called “Printmaking by the People: Citywide Voices on 2026.”

These posters will later inspire a mural and exhibit.

The Committee of Seventy helped people by putting together Civic Engagement Starter Kits, which explained how the city’s government works.

A Peace and Justice Rally celebrated Girard College’s role in the civil rights movement and featured music and presentations from the Cecil B. Moore Philadelphia Freedom Fighters.

The Black Doctors Consortium held a Health and Wellness Fair, offering advice and resources on staying healthy.

Girard College also hosted projects to support children’s reading.

Volunteers trained as Reading Captains to help kids improve their reading skills.

The Book Trust donated 3,000 books, and Literacy Kits were created with reading resources for families.

NPR’s StoryCorps worked with the Malcolm Jenkins Foundation to record personal stories for the “Brightness in Black” project. The stories will be kept in the Library of Congress.

The Philadelphia Fire Department also provided CPR training, and voter registration activities encouraged more people to get involved in their communities.

Other events around Philadelphia added to the celebration.

Families at the Please Touch Museum joined artist Amir Campbell to create a community painting and enjoyed storytelling and music.

The Share Food Program in North Philadelphia welcomed 200 volunteers who packed food boxes for seniors.

Teens participated in the MLK Teen Peace and Social Justice Summit in Warminster, where they attended workshops on leadership and making a difference.

In New Jersey, the Animal Welfare Association held an event in Voorhees.

Volunteers made toys for shelter pets and learned how they could help animals in their community.

PA Cyber students in Springfield decorated special boxes with gifts to make kids in foster care feel valued.

Because of renovations, Jersey City Temple Beth-El postponed its 40th annual MLK Day service to June 20 to align with Juneteenth celebrations.

The temple has a long history of honoring Dr. King’s message of unity and equality.

This year’s service will continue that tradition in its newly renovated Social Hall.

The weekend ended with a strong feeling of togetherness and a shared commitment to carry on Dr. King’s message of equality and kindness.

From handing out supplies to helping kids learn to read, every effort showed Dr. King’s vision of fairness and unity.

His message still inspires people to unite and work for a better future for everyone.