2026 MLK Day and Week of Service & Learning for the Entire Community!

When: Martin Luther King Day, Monday, January 19, 2026, 2pm-5pm

Where: Welcome Gathering at Central Square Church at 2pm followed by Hands On Service Projects at Central Square Church, Cambridge City Hall, Cambridge Senior Center, & YWCA Cambridge.

What: Hands -On Service and Learning

• Make Blankets & Scarves for homeless children, teens & adults.
• Make Valentines for isolated elders, veterans & homeless adults.
• Sort Winter Clothing, Childrens’ Books, Food & Toiletries for people in need.
• Lead a neighborhood Food, Clothing or Book Drive before MLK Day.
  
  Who: Everyone is welcome. Come by yourself or with friends or family; or with a group from your school, work, club, sports team or house of faith. All ages are welcome! (Children should be accompanied by an adult please).

How: Register (for free) here on Eventbrite or go to the .

Don’t come empty-handed: Bring non-perishable food, gently used winter clothing, warm winter socks, or a children’s book(s).

• LEAD a Neighborhood FOOD Drive for local Food Pantries. We will assign you a food pantry to collect for and give you bags and a flyer for you to distribute to 25 neighbors and/or friends asking them to fill the bags with food. You will pick up the food donations and deliver them to your assigned food pantry during MLK Day week.
  
• LEAD a Neighborhood CLOTHING Drive for local non-profits. ! We will provide bags and a flyer for you to distribute to 25 neighbors and/or friends asking them to fill the bags with donated clothing. You will pick up the clothing donations and deliver them to City Hall on MLK Day before 1:00 pm! If you can't deliver on MLK Day, we will give you an alternative drop-off address before MLK Day.

• LEAD a Neighborhood BOOK Drive to collect books for local non-profits. We will provide bags and a flyer for you to distribute to 25 neighbors and/or friends asking them to fill the bags with donated books. You will pick up the donations and deliver them to the Senior Center on MLK Day before 1:00 pm! If you can't deliver on MLK Day, we will give you an alternative drop-off address before MLK Day.

Info: Schedule:


2:00pm Welcome Gathering at Central Square Church where Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. preached on January 10, 1960. 5 Magazine Street, Central Square


2:30pm A Marching Band will lead volunteers to their hands-on project locations; Central Square Church, City Hall, the Senior Center and YWCA.


5:00pm Cambridge MLK Day of Service ends.


Please don't come empty handed! Bring donations of food, children's books &, new warm adult socks or lightly used winter clothing. We will have donation bins outside the locations.

Also check out other Nonprofit events in Cambridge, Sports events in Cambridge, Music events in Cambridge.