Volunteers answer King’s call to service

LYNN ? “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, what are you doing for others?” said Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.Monday, volunteers, members of the community and organizations citywide answered that question with their involvement in the Martin Luther King Day of Service.The Lynn Community Association ? a Lynn group dedicated to making the city “a more desirable” place for families, according to its website ? began the service day three years ago as part of the nationwide remembrance to honor King. The goal, according to Teresa DiGregorio, a staff member of Lynn Youth Street Outreach Advocacy, is to bring the community together and reach out to those in need.The number of volunteers increased from 200 last year to 300 this year, DiGregorio said.”It is always important to recognize there are people who can’t do for themselves,” she said.The day began at Girls Inc. of Lynn, where members of different organizations involved in the service day helped register volunteers and put on educational presentations including one by members of the La Vida program on King’s life. There were also volunteers stuffing toiletry kits for homeless veterans and the Lynn Shelter Association, making valentines for seniors and veterans, and cleaning up Girls Inc. facilities.Around the city, there were volunteers holding ice cream socials for seniors, serving lunch at My Brother’s Table, painting the children’s room at the Lynn Public Library and holding food drives at supermarkets. There were a total of 23 projects in which volunteers participated.Sarah Alexander, Kristen Ago and Torri Bene, all high school seniors and involved with Girls Inc., volunteered at the service day.”It’s already so amazing,” Alexander said. “I would love to see it grow even further. It’s educating people more on the life of Dr. MLK and giving them a chance to remember him.”The three young women volunteered their time by helping make bookmarks to distribute and also reading Martin Luther King Jr. books to children. It was Bene’s fourth year participating in the service day because she wants to “carry on MLK’s vision” in any way she can.”I am a firm believer in Black Lives Matter,” Bene said. “I want to carry on his vision through more than just the I Have a Dream speech.”It was Ago’s first year, and “I wish I got involved earlier,” she said. “It is so great to see how many people are involved, because it is not only important to our community, but people who want to contribute.”There are 15 organizations that help make the service day possible by providing food, supplies, volunteers and facilities for the volunteers to help at. The day was about giving back and everyone involved seemed to benefit from the experience.”I am overwhelmed with joy that people care about their community and want to help,” DiGregorio said.