More than 100 people gathered early this morning, despite the sub-freezing temperature, to give back to the community for Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Mt. Lebanon. The Mt. Lebanon Civic Engagement Board (CEB) held the first-ever MLK Day of Service with community projects for residents.

Board member Rev. Noah Evans of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, who is the CEB chairperson, hoped to show Mt. Lebanon’s commitment to service with action, not just words. “The community response has been incredible. People are excited to mark this day with service,” he said.

The CEB’s lead organizer, Kelsey Leigh, told attendees “Thank you for making this a day on, not ju st a day off.”

The CEB partnered with a wide variety of community organizations in need of volunteers. Participants could choose from the following activities this morning:

• Crafting Valentine’s Day cards for seniors at Asbury Heights
• Assembling sandwiches for Neighborhood Resilience Project
• Making toiletry kits for Pittsburgh Action Against Rape
• Cooking meals at St. Paul’s kitchen for local groups
• Volunteering directly at South Hills Pet Rescue, Dormont Community Development Corporation and South Hills Interfaith Movement

Anna Marie, 14, was one of the volunteers who made Valentine’s Day cards for Asbury seniors. “I wanted to help out and support the community,” she noted. Anna Marie decided to spend her day off school helping others.

In the next room, Christianne Johnson and her son, Logan, a student at Mt. Lebanon High School, made sandwiches for Neighborhood Resilience Project. Christianne wanted to volunteer for MLK Day and was happy to find this event so close to home. The mother and son helped fill brown bags with napkins and snacks, while others assembled 150 sandwiches to help those facing food insecurity.

Commissioner Anne Swager Wilson thanked the CEB for their efforts. “This is one of the best things they do — they bring people together.”