Frigid temperatures didn’t dampen the energy or spirits during the annual MLK Day of Service at Hillendale Elementary School. Hillendale, which has always been involved in the event, became the hub of activity as the other three elementary schools in the district- Pocopson, Unionville, and Chadds Ford- took part, as did CF Patton Middle School. Even a few of the Unionville High School Honor Society took part.

Josh Leight, the principal at Hillendale, was pleased with the turnout.

“We are so excited because today is our annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, where we welcome kids and their families to do service projects to support our local community.”

Leight also commented on the fact that the event has moved from something in each of the elementary schools to everything funneling into Hillendale.

“That’s a change that’s actually happened over the last few years, where we started working with Pocopson Elementary School and then, as families heard about this event, and as our PTOs spoke to each other about what they could do to give back this time of year, they realized that a team effort was better than individual efforts. So, this time for the first year, we have all four elementary schools and our middle school represented.”

He added that they were expecting about 400 people to take part.

The volunteers provided a variety of services to about 10 different organizations in southern Chester County.

Students and adult volunteers made surgical caps for Julee Cares, caps that will go to children at Christiana Cares Wilmington facility, while others made Birthday Cake boxes for families served by Kennett Area Community. Services Food Pantry. Still others stuffed duffle bags for kids caught up in the CASA — Court Appointed Special Advocates — system in Delaware and Chester County.

Kristin Zimmerman, co-vice president of the Chadds Ford Elementary School PTO, said there were close to a dozen community organizations at the school. Kids could walk around to various tables and “provide a community service project to benefit that organization.”

Zimmerman pointed to a table for KACS, where they were putting together the birthday cake mixes, where families who couldn’t otherwise celebrate a birthday could have what they needed for a celebration.

Kecia Crowl, of KACS, said, “The community coming together to support what we do is amazing, and to watch these kids understand that they’re helping another family is just…You can’t do any better. I love to see this where everyone comes together to help many organizations in our community because together, we are strengthening our community…These birthday cake kits that they’re putting together, that’s a way for a child to celebrate who probably couldn’t afford to have the celebration.”

Chelsey Wirth is the chairperson for the event. There were volunteers from every PTO in the district that helped put everything together, and they also included some volunteers from the high school honor society. She said next it’s possible that all five schools in the district would fully take part.

“We’re helping people, but we also want to build communities.”

She added that there were representatives from all the organizations getting help from the volunteers. One of those representatives was Jill Butler from CASA.

Butler said the kids in the system are those who are not living with their families but are in foster or some other type of care system.

“These are kids who have certain court-appointed care, and are those who are in out-of-home care. We have been appointed by a judge for what we call dependent children. These are children who have been adjudicated as dependent. They are no longer in their natural home…Often, these kids go from place to place, and they have nothing. So, today, these children are making these duffel bags, and they’re sort of like care duffel bags. They put ChapStick in them, toothbrushes, and they are writing some very sweet notes just for motivation. The kids [the recipients] need that.”

She added that CASA is most appreciative of the volunteer efforts in putting the duffle bags together “because sometimes we are very far removed from what happens in our court system.”

Butler also added a personal note.

“Being a former CASA from 30 years ago in the Philadelphia court system, I know what it means to work with children in need. These are vulnerable children, and it is good to have a connection with children who aren’t part of that system. Those who can volunteer and help others.”