On January 19, SCH marked the 31st annual MLK Day of Service by inviting students, parents, and the broader community to assist five local organizations in various service projects.
The day began with a speech by keynote speaker Dr. Reverend Alexander Houston, an SCH parent and pastor at the Christian Church in Philadelphia. Houston centered his speech around the idea of the importance of time, and of making the most of it for the good of others. He referenced Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech “I’ve been to the Mountaintop”, the final speech King gave before he was shot and killed in 1968, to illustrate his message of service.
In King’s speech, he recalled a pivotal moment in his life that occurred on September 20th, 1958. That day, while he was in New York City signing copies of his new book, Stride to Freedom, a woman named Izola Curry stabbed him in the chest. He was rushed to Harlem Hospital, and, after looking at the chest X-rays, King realized that the knife had been sitting against his aorta. If he had simply sneezed, “he would have drowned in his own blood,” Houston said.
Because King had survived that encounter, he realized the value of and simultaneous limitations of time, that “tomorrow is not promised.” Because King had survived, he was inspired to lead the Montgomery Bus Boycott that ended segregation in interstate travel, to deliver his “I have a Dream” speech in 1963, and more. If King had simply sneezed, communities across the country might not be taking the time to serve and help those in need in their communities as we do today. Houston said, quoting King, “I’m so happy that I didn’t sneeze.”
Houston’s words advised attendees and the greater community to learn from King’s experience. “Time is one of life’s most precious commodities, and we must be resolved to make the best use of our time, despite any difficulties, despite any obstacles…Here we are, and while the birds are still singing, while the sun is still shining, here we gather in this morning, gathering in the bond of unity and peace, unity and opportunity. And if we sneeze, we’ll miss the moment.”
With the conclusion of Houston’s speech, attendees carried his message with them into the various activities present that day. As part of SCH’s continued partnership with Horizons, an organization that provides a free academic enrichment program to low-income students in the greater Philadelphia area, volunteers packed backpacks with school supplies that students will use throughout the program.
Volunteers also wrote letters for deployed troops as part of A Million Thanks, an organization that SCH and the SCH service council club frequently partner with throughout the year. The organization’s mission is to generate uplifting letters for military personnel. John Ford, an Upper School math teacher, spoke about the organization as a veteran who received letters while serving as a Second Lieutenant in Operation Desert Shield in 1990. “You want to talk about an uplifting experience for folks that have been sitting in a desert for six weeks,” Ford said, describing the impact of the letters. “It means a lot.”
Other organizations included Project Home, which is dedicated to providing every Philadelphia resident a home. Volunteers created “Welcome Home” signs for people that are receiving a home this year in areas like Kensington and Upper North Philadelphia. Volunteers also helped organize donations for Cradles to Crayons, which provides clothing and other necessities for youth facing homelessness.
Face to Face Germantown is an organization that SCH has not partnered with for their Day of Service until this year. Dedicated to restoring dignity and hope to those suffering in Germantown and surrounding communities, it does so by preparing food that addresses its guests needs, providing health, legal and social centers, and educational and social support for families. To assist that mission, volunteers prepared and packed sandwiches to be served at their location in Germantown.
Additionally, as a non-volunteering activity, members of the Middle School Horizons Club were present to engage with younger attendees. They read a story by Amanda Gorman and completed a small arts and crafts activity.
The MLK Day of Service is not just a day to serve, “it is a great opportunity to build community here, to make sure people know each other, and to just be reminded of giving back and how much we have here,” said Diana Cosgrove, Director of Parent Engagement and one of the four co-chairs of this year’s event.
It’s also a day to remind ourselves that people are in need, and there are so many ways to help others throughout the years. Every organization present at SCH’s Day of Service has year-round volunteer opportunities or is always accepting donations. The message from Houston’s speech and Martin Luther King Jr.’s accomplishments should empower us all to commit to serving others. As Houston said, “we’re searching for a way that leads to meaningful and effective change. Here we stand trying to be better than what we were yesterday. We can’t afford to sneeze, we can’t afford to miss it.”
