20 Volunteer Opportunities Open For Gloucester Township’s MLK Day 2023

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ - Gloucester Township residents and area locals can participate in nearly two dozen volunteer opportunities this upcoming Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, officials said.

On January 16 from 8:30 a.m. to noon, Gloucester Township will host its annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service 2023, offering service activities ranging from Senior Sock Hop to CPR Training, Cards for Soldiers and Cookies for a Cause (see a full list of service activities below).

“Please join Mayor David Mayer, Township Council, Gloucester Township Public Schools, and Friends and Neighbors on January 16th by volunteering your time to fulfill Dr. King’s dream of helping others,” township officials said in a statement announcing the 2023 initiative. “As Dr. King once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?’ Be a part of fun and worthwhile service projects that have a lasting impact on our entire community.”

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. at Charles W. Lewis Middle School (875 Erial Road, Blackwood) with a presentation and continental breakfast, followed by service activities at various locations from 10 a.m. to noon.

You can reserve your spot to volunteer by filling out the pre-registration form here.

Preregistration is currently limited to 500 volunteers. Online registration will end on Jan. 12 at noon.

Event day registration will be available depending on project availability.

See the full day of service sites here (courtesy of Gloucester Township):

• Blackwood Animal Hospital – Rehab and extend a walking trail for furry friends to use while waiting for their appointment or stay at the hospital. (Activity located at Blackwood Animal Hospital)
• Blankets for the Camden County Women’s Shelter – Create fleece tie blankets for the Camden County Women’s Shelter children. (Activity takes place at C.W. Lewis Middle School).
• Blenheim Fire Company – Help the men and women of the Fire Department with firehouse duties.
• Camden County Animal Shelter – Assist in the care of sheltered animals (limit of 25)
• Camden County Animal Shelter – Treats – Stuffing kongs with a peanut butter mixture for dogs at the shelter. (Activity takes place at CW Lewis Middle School).
• Camden County Greenhouse – Work in the Greenhouse planting seeds for the upcoming year.
• Cards for Soldiers – Creating cards to send to our brave men and women a card of hope and thanks.
• Cookies for a Cause – Bake chocolate chip cookies, bag them and add a special message for the Cathedral Kitchen. (Activity takes place at CW Lewis Middle School)
• CPR Training – Friends and Family CPR. Inspira will provide a two hour CPR class. (limit of 30) (Activity takes place at CW Lewis Middle School)
• Giggle Books – Create small booklets with playful jokes, nursery rhymes, silly faces etc. Donate them to a hospital for children. (Activity takes place at CW Lewis Middle School).
• Gloucester Township Family Success Center –The Family Resource Center provides services to families throughout our Township and region. This project is a general cleanup of the area. (outside activity)
• Gloucester Township Scholarship Committee – Create signs for the annual 5K race. (Activity takes place at CW Lewis Middle School)
• Gloucester Township Senior Campus Center – Bingo and Valentine’s Day Card making with the Seniors. (Activity takes place at Senior Campus Center in the Lakeland Complex)
• Gloucester Township Mayor’s Office Toy Drive – Organize, sort and store remaining toys from the annual Mayor’s Toy Drive. (Project located in the Township Council Chambers)
• Living Word Bible Fellowship Church Paint Project – Located on Somerdale Road this project entails painting 1,000 sf walls within the Church.
• MLK Day of Service Staff – This project entails assisting with day of registration, t-shirt and breakfast distribution, and set up and clean up of the MLK Day of Service site at CW Lewis Middle School.
• PB & J for the Cathedral Kitchen in Camden – Make 1200 PB & J Sandwiches and deliver a take home snack for those in need. (Activity takes place at CW Lewis Middle School)
• Senior Sock Hop – Bring your best dance moves and dance the morning with our Senior Citizens. Volunteers will serve refreshments and serve as dance partners. (Activity takes place at the Senior Center)
• Soles for Souls – Sorting donated shoes. Through the collection and sale of used shoes, Soles4Souls helps create self-sustaining jobs that generate desperately needed revenues throughout impoverished communities. (Activity takes place at the Senior Center)
• St. Vincent de Paul Society (Food Bank at Our Lady of Hope-St. Agnes Church) – Organizing, inventory, collection of donations.