In a heartwarming display of community spirit, over 200 volunteers—including youth groups and Pennsylvania’s first Black lieutenant governor—gathered to craft blankets and provide food donations at the Blankets & Broth event held in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis participated in the event at the Friedman Jewish Community Center, where he completed the final touches on a fringe blanket. Addressing the attendees, Davis emphasized the day’s significance as a call to action for collective responsibility, stating, “MLK Day serves as a reminder that we all have responsibility … to do our part to make not just this Commonwealth, but this world a better place.”
Amidst national challenges, Davis urged reflection on Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision of a “Beloved Community,” a philosophy advocating for a society where “poverty, hunger and homelessness will not be tolerated.” Learn more about the ‘Beloved Community’.
Sharing his personal journey, Davis recounted his grandparents’ move from the segregated South to Pennsylvania in search of a better life, remarking on their humble dreams versus his historic role today: “I don’t think they would have ever thought in their wildest dreams that their grandson would one day be Pennsylvania’s first Black lieutenant governor.”
The event was a collaborative effort, resulting in the creation of 192 blankets destined for local organizations such as Salvation Army’s Kirby Family House, Project Warm with the Wilkes-Barre Department of Veterans Affairs, and Ruth’s Place, a vital shelter for women experiencing homelessness. Additionally, food donations collected will enhance Sara’s Table at the JCC, aiding over 270 families monthly.
Volunteers of all ages take part in MLK Day of Service
The diverse group of volunteers included participants from local Girl Scout troops, high school robotics teams, and JCC pickleball enthusiasts. Even the youngest volunteers, like six-year-old Charlotte ‘Charlie’ Hughes, contributed by hand-stitching a blanket alongside her grandmother, Patty. Charlie noted King as an activist with “a dream.”
Charlie explained, “We are making blankets for the needy, and I’m also making mini-blankets for plushies for fun … Whenever I need blankets to be tied, I just ask my Lolly to tie them.” Patty Hughes emphasized the importance of teaching her granddaughter the value of giving back.
Students from Wilkes-Barre Area High School, including Ariana Cobb, My-Unique Crawley, and Isabella DeGraffenreid, also participated through their Key Club, a student-led service organization. DeGraffenreid, the club’s vice president, appreciated the sense of community and the opportunity to help others: “This is my second year at the event (Blankets & Broth), and I love the community that it brings. I love meeting all the different people and being able to bond over helping others. I think it’s so beautiful.”
Blankets and food serve Luzerne County community
This year’s event marked the third time the JCC, NAACP Luzerne County Branch #2306, and O’Donnell Law Offices have collaborated on Blankets & Broth. Cathy O’Donnell, inspired by a similar initiative at Davis and Governor Josh Shapiro’s inaugural ceremony, expressed her gratitude for the large turnout and the impact of the volunteers’ work.
Denise Acosta, Director of Kirby Family House, expressed gratitude for the community’s support, noting the warmth and unity the blankets symbolize: “Everyone came together, and this is a dream of Martin Luther King … I’m just honored to be here and see the beautiful blankets that are made … It’s going to keep my families warm, but it’s unity, and it’s love here, and that’s what’s important for today.”
The distributed blankets will soon provide comfort to those in need throughout Luzerne County, reinforcing the spirit of community and service that Martin Luther King Jr. championed.
