Hundreds of students from all seven of Cheltenham School District schools came together for a “Day On” in observance of the 25th annual Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service.

Each school worked on its own service projects, ranging from making Super Bowl Chili bags to assembling no-sew fleece blankets to collecting gently worn shoes, old glasses, food and toiletries for those in need.

Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas Judge Steven Tolliver kicked off the event with remarks about Dr. King’s legacy and the importance of service. The event concluded with students, families, and staff singing choruses of Stevie Wonder’s “Happy Birthday” then enjoying birthday cake.

Here is a breakdown of the service project completed by each school:

• Cheltenham Elementary made 80 no-sew blankets for Stenton Family Manor, a homeless shelter in West Oak Lane
• Wyncote Elementary packed 44 Super Bowl Chili bags for the Inter-faith Housing Alliance Food Cupboard, which provides food for low-income residents of Montgomery County in order to reduce food insecurity and improve nutrition
• Glenside Elementary created about 200 craft bags for youngsters at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children and children with families seeking help through the People’s Emergency Center
• Myers Elementary conducted a toiletry drive for South Africa’s Naledi Christian Academy
• Elkins Park made 80 breakfast bags to distribute to the homeless in Philadelphia through the Philadelphia-based program “Meals on Heels”
• Cedarbrook students prepared 400 packets of flashcards for the district’s incoming kindergarteners 
• Cheltenham High School teamed with AKA Sorority to collect countless glasses and gently used shoes for Lions Club International and Soles 4 Sole, respectively

Photos: Dominque Vidal