MLK Day of Service @ Journey's Crossing in Germantown
WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
On Monday, January 18th, Montgomery County will celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service. We will join with thousands of Americans across the country who will celebrate the national holiday honoring the life and work of Dr. King by doing service in their communities.
Journey's Crossing is partnering with local community groups to provide service projects that will include family-friendly activities such as writing letters to those who are homeless or living in a shelter, dropping off food for Germantown Help, and other contributions by drop-off or Amazon Wishlists to the Men's Shelter, Women's Shelter, and Seneca Heights Transitional Housing.
Students may earn SSL hours (see SSL section below for details) for writing and dropping off letters, but students may NOT earn SSL Hours for dropping off food or other contributions through Amazon Wishlists.
To CELEBRATE MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY, SHOW SOMEONE YOU CARE
by WRITING A LETTER of encouragement!
These days people don’t receive a lot of letters and we don’t often stop to write letters/cards. But, we all enjoy receiving special cards or letters. Take this opportunity to say ENCOURAGE someone during these challenging times.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Write a letter or card. Please be as creative as you like. As you write to a man or woman who is currently homeless, and living in a shelter, please share encouraging words and thoughts that help you or someone you know. Please do not include your full name, email address, home address, or any personally identifying information in your letter or card or the letter will not be able to be given to a person in need.
- In the body of your letter: Let the person know that you care about them. Share encouraging words, poems, songs, artwork, color a picture, share a thoughtful verse or quote, or prayer. Remember that this person may be struggling, sad, alone, and needing help. THANK YOU for your kindness.
- For the return address, use the church address [Journey's Crossing], and we will deliver (12900 Cloverleaf Center Drive, Suite A, Germantown, MD 20874)
DROP-OFF: There will be an ATTENDED drop off time for letters on Monday, January 18 from 10am-12noon.
Otherwise, you may drop letters/cards in the drop-box by the front door from January 16-23, 2021.
Note: IF YOU CHOOSE TO DROP OFF letters at the large grey drop box by the front door when it is not attended, please email info@journeyscrossing.org with your name, photo of your completed letters/cards that are eligible to receive SSL hours, and completed SSL form. We will review forms, assign/approve hours for completed cards/letters, and email the form with your hours to the email address listed on the SSL form you drop-off with your letter(s). Journey’s Crossing will not be responsible for “missing” letter/cards if you have no record/photo.
Need help?
- SHOW SOMEONE YOU CARE: WRITE A LETTER or CARD [Sample letter]
https://www.scholastic.com/content/dam/teachers/sponsored-content/USPS/show-someone-you-care.pdf -
Writing Letters of Encouragement. Here’s a link sponsored by the United States Postal Service, that helps students follow a personal letter format in order to write a letter. In our SSL application, we will write letters to the hospital CARE-GIVERS.
- LETTER TEMPLATE: https://www.scholastic.com/content/dam/teachers/sponsored-content/USPS/Letter-Template-Sheet.pdf
- GETTING STARTED: https://www.scholastic.com/content/dam/teachers/sponsored-content/USPS/USPS_GetStarted_1.pdf
- HOW TO MAKE A CARD: https://www.scholastic.com/content/dam/teachers/sponsored-content/USPS/Envelope-Template.pdf
- GET YOUR LETTER MAILBOX READY: https://www.scholastic.com/content/dam/teachers/sponsored-content/USPS/Final-Project-Checklist.pdf
- MORE ON LETTER WRITING: http://www.scholastic.com/letterwriting/index.html
SSL HOURS: MCPS students will receive SSL hours for completion of cards/letters written. On average students may receive 1 SSL hour for completing 2 letters/cards (and possibly more based on the time spent, and intensity of effort. There is a maximum of 5 SSL hours for 10+ cards/letters).
In order to receive SSL hours, you will be expected to drop off your letters/cards & completed SSL forms to Journey’s Crossing, 12900 Cloverleaf Center Drive, Suite A, Germantown, MD 20874, along with your SSL forms (which we will verify/confirm/allocate hours completed) on January 18 at drop-off 10-noon, or the from January 16-23 at the drop-box onsite at Journey’s.
Student participation in this service project is at the discretion of the student’s parent/guardian. Journey’s Crossing as a non-profit organization is responsible for maintaining student safety and privacy. Journey’s Crossing will determine the number of SSL hours awarded based on the letters/cards submitted. Parents/guardians should contact Journey’s Crossing with questions and/or concerns emailed to info@journeyscrossing.org. This service activity is designed to be completed within the safety of the student’s home until schools resume normal status.
THANK YOU in advance for your generosity & kindness to help others!
