Over 400 volunteers listen to Lori Landers' introduction.

This year’s Martin Luther King Day saw an event put on by Many Helping Hands at the Central Square YWCA, which brought together over 400 Cambridge volunteers to create blankets and scarves for the homeless, emergency room activity kits for children, valentines for home-bound seniors, and bookmarks for literacy program participants.

The day opened with an introduction by the organizers, and then a single vocalist on stage singing a chill-inducing “River Jordan” before leading the crowd in “This Little Light of Mine,” all a cappella to send them off to work with the right spirit firmly in mind.

The Cambridge Energy Alliance was fortunate enough to have been present for this event, among many other local Cambridge volunteer-seeking groups. In addition to getting connected with volunteers, myself and Meghan Shaw were able to interact with residents: adults were able to ask their energy efficiency questions and sign up to take advantage of their Free home energy assessment, while children (see photos below) had a blast playing our  new energy efficiency game.

This event had a wonderful turn-out, and we look forward to being a part of such impactful gatherings on MLK days in the years to come.

Jesse stands by, waiting for the crowd to arrive after setting up.

Meghan demonstrates the spinner for passersby.

An enthusiastic game contestant conquors our fuel Find & Seek challenge!

Not only did this young man manage to be the first to complete our more competetive math-oriented Find & Seek challenge, but he recruited a handful of friends to try their hand at it!

A particularly proud player, having just completed our Crossword Challenge!

As a nice treat, Vice Mayor Henrietta Davis made a cute Valentine for CEA with white crayon and watercolors. It's a CFL, can you tell?!