Philly holds Martin Luther King Day of Service event at Girard College
The event in Philadelphia is the oldest and largest King Day event in the nation.
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Martin Luther King Jr. Day looked different again this year at Girard College.
The Armory is usually packed with thousands of people, but now, the focus was on one of Monday's main themes: health justice.
Along with COVID-19 testing, vaccines were going into arms and flu shots were also being administered.
It was all part of the 27th annual Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service.
"In 1966, Dr. King said of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and inhuman," organizer Todd Bernstein said.
That message resonates with Dr. Ala Stanford, founder of the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium.
"I can't help but reflect this weekend because it's exactly one year that we administered our first vaccination in North Philadelphia," Stanford said.
Her organization continues to offer free COVID-19 tests and vaccinations.
"My charge to you as we strive toward health justice is we all know one person who has not been vaccinated. We all know one parent who has not vaccinated their child. Listen first to why. Educate them if there's been misinformation," Stanford said.
Also when it comes to education, there was a focus on children.
Many who attended the event read books about Dr. King's quest for change, while area leaders worked to encourage more adults to help make a difference.
The hope now is to continue Monday's efforts throughout the rest of the year.
ONLINE: https://volunteer.globalcitizen365.org/
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