Marking the MLK Day of Service at Girard College in North Philadelphia

NORTH PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- An army of volunteers made work look like fun at the 21st annual Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service at Girard College.

An estimated 5,000 volunteers worked on 150 different projects to celebrate King's legacy.

"We do what we can to make our community stronger, more just," volunteer Katrina Loomey told Action News.

"Martin Luther King was an advocate of strong communities," said Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf. "Many things we care most about begin with healthy communities."

From sorting books to thanking veterans, the service projects run the gamut.

But there's a shared focus on improving communities, and the educational component here is also key.

"Dr. King brought so many different people together of all ages and backgrounds," said Todd Bernstein, president of Global Citizen and founder of the Greater Philadelphia King Day of Service. "If we can do that and have people get to know one another and break down barriers and build understanding, I think that's part of what we need to do."

In all, 140,000 volunteers throughout the Philadelphia region were pitching in Monday.

Organizers say that's a national record, making it the biggest King Day event in the nation.