Martin Luther King Day of Service

How has this idea enhanced your club's operation, etc.?

The Acorn Club wanted to provide a volunteer opportunity for their members, families, children, grandchildren and staff. In past years, the Club has noticed a large amount of the membership bringing their children and grandchildren in for A la Carte lunch on day’s school was closed for federal holidays. The Acorn Club decided to plan a Martin Luther King Day of Service so everyone can be involved with giving back to the local Philadelphia community. The planning began in the summer of 2017 when we contacted Global Citizen Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service. This organization works year-round to help plan service opportunities for different companies on MLK Day, as well as other service experiences throughout the year. We told them about our club membership, our values and that it was most important to give back locally during this important day in history. After given many charities to choose from, the Ronald McDonald House of Philadelphia seemed to be a perfect match! With the help of Acorn member, Dr. Audrey Evans, the co-founder of the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House, we were able to implement this special community service outreach opportunity.

This service day has enhanced the overall morale of the club operations. The members, families and staff felt very engaged while participating in assisting with the "grab & go bags" for families in need at the Ronald McDonald House. This has also created a positive club cultural and a feeling of togetherness for all that participated in this event. Even members and staff that were not able to make the day of service have mentioned that they wish they could have been a part of the day! In addition, this had a strong impact on the future of the Acorn Club by making the next generation of “Young Acorn’s” aware of what a remarkable place our club really is.

How was this idea implemented, and what have been the club members' reactions?

The day started with a short program given by Acorn member, Dr. Audrey Evan with over 40 members in attendance. She showed a captivating video which was followed by her story of how and why the Ronald McDonald House was founded. She also shared that without the kindness of people around her and the Philadelphia community, she would not be where she was today. After everyone was truly moved by her program, the members enjoyed a buffet lunch with plenty of kid-friendly food options for the children! The service portion of the day entailed stuffing "grab and go" bags for the families at the Ronald McDonald House. This is a healthy, cost free option for the families as they are waiting at the hospital for their loved one. We had an assembly line to complete the service efficiently. It started with the Acorn staff helping the children color pictures on each bag to brighten up the day of anyone receiving these at the Ronald McDonald House. This was a great way for the young children to get involved with service and also meet new friends. From there, the bags went through the assembly line. Members, children and staff stuffed over 60 "grab and go bags" filled with soup, apple sauce, fruit snacks, chips, granola bars and water bottles, which were all donated by The Acorn Club.

The member’s reaction to our MLK Day of Service has been overwhelmingly positive. They were all so appreciative to share the day together and also to raise awareness for the Ronald McDonald House. In addition, many said they loved that they were able to bring their families and teach their children the importance of charity and giving back to your community. An Acorn Member, Mrs. Pam Gagne sent an email that next day and said, “Thank you for all of the kindness and support you gave my granddaughters. It was a memorable day and I believe it served to generate support and appreciation of Dr. Evans work and of Dr. King’s memory”. The Acorn Club looks forward to planning the next service opportunity for the members and the staff.