The legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is as prevalent today as it was 60 years ago when he organized the March on Washington and gave his legendary “I Have a Dream” speech. His pursuit of equality for people of all backgrounds is a fight that is still being fought and honored. The Aurora Public Library District (APLD) is celebrating the work of Dr. King this year by participating in a Day of Service in his honor. Monday, Jan. 16, you are invited to share your time, words of kindness, and resources with the community to make the city of Aurora a better place. Past volunteer tasks at the library have included cleaning Library items, organizing supplies, painting murals, and creating interactive displays of peace for the public. This year, in order to serve more, each Library location will focus its volunteer efforts on different projects.
First for the day will be the Eola Road Branch, 555 S. Eola Road, from 10 a.m. to noon. Participants will serve Mutual Ground and create cards for hospitalized children. Mutual Ground serves families and individuals impacted by domestic and sexual violence and substance use disorders (www.mutualground.org). Volunteers at the Eola Road Branch will collect and sort donations, which may include dish soap, laundry detergent, all-purpose cleaner, Swiffer wet-jet refills, toilet bowl cleaner and other cleaning supplies. For a full list of acceptable donations, please visit https://mutualground.org/inkind-donations. Children who wish to participate may help by creating uplifting cards, Cards for Hospitalized Kids. Cards for Hospitalized Kids is a charitable organization that spreads hope, joy and magic to hospitalized kids across America through uplifting, handmade cards (www.cardsforhospitalizedkids.com). The cards created at the MLK Day of Service event will be mailed to the organization by Library staff members.
After lunch, volunteers will go to the Library’s West Branch, 233 S. Constitution Drive, to volunteer from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and support the Library’s upcoming Seed Swap program. Staff members and Master Gardeners from the Illinois Extension Service will get ready for the annual Seed Swap January 28. Master Gardeners are trained volunteers who dedicate their time and skills to make their community a more beautiful place (https://extension.illinois.edu/mg). The Library has been host to this potluck for seeds event since 2018, and even converted to a take-home kit in 2020. West Branch volunteers will work alongside the Master Gardeners to divide the seeds into smaller packets and organize them for the upcoming event. Any seeds not distributed during the Seed Swap event January 28 will be donated to hometown food pantries.
The last stop on the MLK Day of Service Library tour will be the Santori Library, 101 S. River Street from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m when volunteers at Santori will serve Hesed House and create cards to be sent to Card for Hospitalized Kids. Hesed House, a national model for ending homelessness, works tirelessly to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless and give people the chance to hope again (hesedhouse.org). Volunteers at Santori will collect and organize donations of cough drops, cold/flu medication (liquid or tablets, alcohol-free), pocket-sized Kleenex, Neosporin, and travel size/1 oz. lotion, shampoo, toothpaste, mouthwash, and body wash. For more information about donating to Hesed House, please visit https://www.hesedhouse.org/financial-donations.
We hope you will take advantage of these opportunities to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s mission and give back to your community. For more information about any of these events, please visit www.aurorapubliclibrary.org/events or call 630-264-4117. Donations for Mutual Ground or Hesed House can be dropped off at any time between now and January 16.
Andrea Tiberi is the communications coordinator for the Aurora Public Library District.