Living the dream

NEWS

Residents led the way by volunteering for the King Day of Service in numerous projects throughout the area.

By Amanda L. Snyder

Add Comment | Comments: 0 | Posted Jan. 22, 2009

Cousins Emily Chea and Natlie Tray help beautify their community with the Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia by picking up trash along South Seventh Street for King Day of Service Monday. Staff Photo by Greg Bezanis

Monday was the start of 364 more days of giving back.

"We're launching MLK365 as a way of turning one day into year-round community involvement by connecting the community participation with sustainable opportunity," Todd W. Bernstein, founder/director of the Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service and MLK365, said.

Eddy Sacksith, Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia's youth program director, hopes to become a part of MLK365 and Jan. 19 was the first step during a community cleanup.

"It shows that we care about this community in trying to keep it clean," the resident of Fifth and Jackson streets said. "It's a tough job, but we're going to keep doing what we're doing."

Nearly 80 volunteers from various organizations came out to help the association for its seventh annual King cleanup along Seventh Street from Porter Street to Snyder Avenue before the snow started falling in the early afternoon. Students from the association's after-school program and University of Pennsylvania worked side-by-side with volunteers from the youth group Footprints from Living Water in the Logan section of the city to sweep the streets and gather up debris.

Vimul Ross, a Footprints youth group leader and literacy coach at the association's after-school program, asked his students prior to the holiday what they wanted to do for the community on King Day, which has become a day to give of oneself to community projects rather than a day off of school or work. While violence in the area was a concern, many realized it was not safe to play outside because of the glass on the streets, he said.

"They were talking about how bad the trash is," Ross said.

While only the adults were permitted to pick up the glass, children from the after-school program did their part. Shannen Hennigan, from Fifth and Shunk streets, helped sweep up trash.

"I say we should clean the street and people will be much happier," the 9-year-old said.

Valerie and Natalie Tray, sisters from Oregon Avenue and Randolph Street, filled a trash bag with the help of cousin Emily Chen, 10, of Seventh and Dickinson streets.

"I wanted to help, so I came out here and picked up the trash," Valerie, 10, said.

"We wanted to help make the world clean," Natalie, 8, added.

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