Lake County Gazette

Highland Park is set to host its 15th annual Martin Luther King Day of Service, featuring both an in-person presentation and drive-through donation events. These events will take place within the Recreation Center of Highland Park and its parking lot.

The in-person event is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Recreation Center on Monday, Jan. 15, according to a Highland Park press release. Concurrently, the drive-through donation event will run from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in the parking lot.

Presentations will commence inside from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., initiated by the Presentation of the Colors by the Highland Park Police Department Honor Guard, as per the Highland Park press release. District 112 students will lead in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Subsequently, City of Highland Park Mayor Nancy R. Rotering and Park District of Highland Park Board President Terry Grossberg are expected to deliver remarks followed by a keynote address on health equity by Brandon Buchanan, System Assistant Vice President of Highland Park Hospital, FACHE (Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives). The program will conclude with musical performances by members of the Highland Park High School Music Ensemble.

Service projects are slated to be undertaken from 10:30 a.m. to noon, as per another announcement from Highland Park press release. At noon, Ravinia Festival's Reach, Teach, Play is set to perform.

Drive-through donations have been requested for six community agencies and nonprofits as detailed in a donation request list linked to the Highland Park press release. A Safe Place seeks items such as paper towels, toilet paper, baby wipes, diapers, soap and cleaning supplies while The National Council of Jewish Women - North Shore is accepting donations like new socks, small throws/blankets, shampoo among other personal grooming items for delivery to the YWCA Shelter. Highland Park Public Library will deliver donated items to PADS - Lake County and is seeking items that include multigrain Cheerios, shelf-stable milk, juice packs, water bottles, and Hormel Compleat entrees.

Working Bikes is requesting donations of used adult bikes and gently used kids' bikes, parts, and accessories as per a donation request list linked to the Highland Park press release. District 112 Foundation seeks donations of new children's books for delivery to Lurie's Childrens Hospital. Moraine Township needs donations for its food pantry of unopened, unexpired food, with the most needed food including pasta sauce and pasta, baking items, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, cereal, and oatmeal.

The MLK Day of Service is being hosted by the City of Highland Park in collaboration with the Human Relations Advisory Group and the Park District of Highland Park as per a final announcement from Highland Park press release.