By Bruce Leuthold
On Monday, January 15, 2024, Glen Mar Church in partnership with Ames Memorial and St. John’s Baptist Church celebrated the 10th Annual MLK Jr. Day of Service.
Stats from the day: 549 people attended; packaged 72,000 meals for Central America residents with inspiring music; 115 pillowcases sewn; 340 encouragement cards written; 85 “no-sew” blankets made; over 100 pieces of encouragement artwork created; over 75 Barbie, Ken, and Princess Dolls restored; 20 single beds were made at Sleep in Heaven Peace; tons of clothes and food collected for Sandtown residents; 374 “no-sew” fleece hats made; over 500 fishing, hygiene, and school supply kits assembled; 30 dozen cookies decorated with a “thank you” note for teachers; fed about 500 volunteers with a bowl of chili and grilled cheese sandwich meal; 65 vision and 64 hearing screenings were performed; and tons of clothes and personal care products were collected for migrants. Activities at Ames Memorial were repairing spots in the floor in the Resurrection West building and feeding 125 people in the Sandtown area with a filling meal. At the orientation, the volunteers were asked to engage in all activities, to discover the beneficiaries of their efforts and the motivations driving their fellow volunteers. Below are testimonies from the day:
Charlotte L.: “I felt amazing serving others. The meal prep was so fun and inspiring. I saw God while working because of how excited everyone was to be helping. Everyone was working as a team enthusiastically, and I know God was present. Serving others has really helped me connect with my community. God has helped me participate in service by guiding me to be the best version of myself.”
Shamia F.: “God is a good and powerful God. God has blessed me so much in my life I feel compelled to give back and serve others. In serving others I get to see how God is moving in my community, state, and world. Because I have been blessed, I want to be a blessing and be God’s hands and feet on earth. The Day of Service event was amazing and brought people of all backgrounds together to serve placing our neighbors above ourselves.”
Patrice W.: “I feel wonderful after serving others. This is my fourth year serving on this day and my daughters look forward to it. I feel it is important to teach them from a young age the importance of serving. I see God at work today through all the volunteers from various ages and ethnic backgrounds eager to serve. My God moment today was when I saw the snow and dreaded driving on the unplowed roads. I put my faith in God and took my time to get here and volunteer. It is wonderful and my soul is filled today.”
Anonymous #1: “This was my first time attending an MLK service day at Glen Mar Church with my 7-year-old daughter and it was so fulfilling. The activities offered were very engaging and the volunteers were warm and welcoming. We will be back!”
Stanford L. (age 11): “I felt fulfilled and happy to make a difference. I made hats and helped package food. I am glad to change the homeless people’s lives.”
Bruce M.: “Participating in the MLK Day of Service makes me feel proud. It is nice to serve the community. This has become a family tradition; we have come for several years. As my kids get older, I’m hopeful they see and appreciate God’s work through all the volunteers. We especially enjoyed the food packing and no-sew blankets. The chili is awesome too (my 15-year-old has been looking forward to it for days).”
Margaret: “I feel blessed to be at this place and event that gives my family and me an opportunity to love God and love others through a wide variety of service opportunities. I feel God’s presence among us as we do this work, these small things for others. Hopefully, they’ll feel God’s love when they get them! Thank you, Glen Mar, for this opportunity!”
T.R.: “I have been doing Day of Service for many years, and every time is a new and better experience. It’s amazing to see everyone come together to help others. I love doing this and won’t stop until we can help everyone. The Spirit Center is filled with the holy spirit but honestly the whole building is.”
A.L.: “It was amazing for my 11-year-old twins and me to do good for others. It is really important for them to learn to be empathic and to care for others’ needs. Thanks for the opportunity.”
Anonymous #2: “This is my first time at this location, and it has been fantastic!! We came as a family and it felt really great giving a little bit of our time and energy to make an impact, however small.”
L.M.P.: “I love Glen Mar’s Day of Service. There are so many different activities to participate in. I see God in the volunteers coming together, teaching each other, helping one another, and encouraging everyone. God’s work through these people inspires me to be selfless and helpful in my day-to-day life.”
Michelle: “I enjoyed serving the community with my daughter. I want to develop a sense of community within her so she continues giving back as she gets older. The events/stations were a lot of fun, and the leaders were very friendly and helpful. I felt grateful after volunteering.”
Susan O. family: “I felt happy and good for helping others in need. It was great to see strangers coming together and getting to know each other in the spirit of helping others in our community. This is the first time I have been able to participate in this day as I have always had to work. My husband and three boys have participated for many years. I enjoyed seeing their appreciation and understanding of the impact they knew they were making.”
Jamie S.: “My favorite service event of the year was bustling with so many beautiful souls from all walks of life and all ages. My favorite sight from the morning session was seeing a young boy and young girl, around 6 or 7 years old, working together to carry a completed box of 36 meals to be loaded onto the pallet. Just goes to show that there is never a job too big when we work together!!! Perhaps that is the reason this event touches me the most? In a world where it is so easy to feel isolated, I love seeing the community come together for the common purpose of LOVE! Every meal packed, every fishing kit assembled, every pillowcase crafted is just another example of selfless love!!! Agape love! Thank you for being the vessel, Glen Mar.”
K.C.: “We come every year to Glen Mar’s Day of Service as a way to celebrate Dr. King and not just have a day off from school. Kids love it every year and invite friends. There are always things to do that are age appropriate. Thanks Glen Mar from a neighbor close by!!”
Kelly R.: “Today has been a wonderful day. It has been an opportunity to use our hands to do God’s work alongside other people. It is nice to see so many people working together to help our brothers and sisters in our community. The activities have been fun and meaningful.”
L.L.: “Serving others, especially in the company of other volunteers is always fun because of the social aspect and the knowledge that the end result helps others – there is the additional happy end result of learning how to do something new – I never knew that there were sew-less fleece hats and how easy they are to make! I love the variety of activities that are available to choose from – so many social/learning/helping opportunities to choose from – great experience. Will return in the future.”
D.W.T.: “It is great to serve and help others. God is working through to be able to brighten someone’s day. I saw God working through others with smiles, assisting one another, working as a team. God is working in my life as I take the time to bless others and to give back to the community. I have truly enjoyed everything about the time spent today. I tried to hit as many areas as I could. I loved it all.”
The excitement, joy, and sense of fulfillment expressed by many reveals how God worked through their lives, guiding them to be the best versions of themselves. The tradition of serving our community reflects a commitment to celebrating Dr. King’s legacy not just with a day off but with a day on, actively engaged in making a positive difference. Thank you to the planning team, partners, activity leads, and volunteers who made this day a testament to the power of God’s love in action. Though our actions, we are indeed God’s hands and feet on earth.
