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How to volunteer on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Philadelphia and 11 other ways to celebrate

How you can do some good this MLK Day

Frank Monaghan, executive director of Habitat for Humanity, right, helps Janai Wright, 9, left, build a flower box during 20th annual Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service on Jan. 19, 2015 at Girard College.
Frank Monaghan, executive director of Habitat for Humanity, right, helps Janai Wright, 9, left, build a flower box during 20th annual Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service on Jan. 19, 2015 at Girard College.Read moreDavid Maialetti/Staff Photographer

Martin Luther King Jr. Volunteering Opportunities

The Greater Philadelphia King Day of Service

Each year, the Greater Philadelphia King Day of Service updates its website with hundreds of volunteering opportunities, from school and neighborhood cleanups to woodland restoration and trail work. You can opt for a site in the Greater Philadelphia area or participate at the Girard College signature site, where you'll join thousands of other volunteers on unique projects. Online registration — at mlkdayofservice.org — is required to view volunteering opportunities.

The Philadelphia Museum of Art

The Philadelphia Museum of Art will have stations so visitors can create greeting cards that will be distributed with meals delivered to those in need by MANNA. Admission is also pay-what-you-wish on Monday, so everyone can participate.

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, 215-763-8100, philamuseum.org

Taking Back Our Neighborhoods

The Ray of Hope Project is hosting neighborhood cleanups all across the city. There are 25 sites this year, making it easier than ever to get involved. View addresses and register to volunteer online.

9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday, various sites, mlkdayofservice.org

National Constitution Center

The National Constitution Center is holding a daylong commemoration of King's life on Monday. Visitors will receive access to special service projects, performances, and more. The National Constitution Center will also collect school supplies for Philadelphia students through Monday, and materials can be dropped off at the box office. Admission will be $5 for the day.

11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, National Constitution Center, 525 Arch St., $5 admission, 215-409-6600, constitutioncenter.org

Bethel AME Church

The Main Line Martin Luther King Association is hosting a service project on Monday at Bethel AME Church. Participants will pack toiletries to be delivered to homeless shelters. Donations will also be accepted until 8:30 a.m. on Monday.

9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday, Bethel AME Church, 50 South Merion Ave., Bryn Mawr, free, www.bethelbrynmawr.org

Rutgers University – Camden

Every January, Rutgers University hosts a day of service for students, faculty and Camden community members. Breakfast is provided and participating volunteers are then bused to individual project sites. This year, participating organizations include the Cooper-Grant Neighborhood Association, Volunteers of American Delaware Valley, UrbanPromise and more. You must register online to participate.

8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday, Rutgers-Camden Campus Center, 326 Penn St., Camden, free, camden.rutgers.edu

Martin Luther King Jr. Events/Celebrations

The African American Museum in Philadelphia

The AAMP is holding a weekend-long celebration of King and his life, including a night of poetry and music, a Saturday screening of Brother Outsider and a discussion, and a keynote address by Howard Stevenson, a University of Pennsylvania professor of Africana Studies. Admission is free on Friday and $2 for the rest of the weekend.

Friday, Jan. 12 to Monday, Jan. 15, the African American Museum in Philadelphia, 701 Arch St., free on Friday and $2 Saturday through Monday, 215-574-0380, aampmuseum.org

The Philadelphia Orchestra at Girard College

Each year, the Philadelphia Orchestra plays a free concert in honor of King at Girard College as part of the Greater Philadelphia King Day of Service. This year's program features Samuel Barber's "Adagio for Strings" with a recitation of King's "I Have a Dream" speech, and Duke Ellington's "King of the Magi" from the Suite from The Three Black Kings. Tickets are first-come, first-serve, and there is a limit of four tickets per household. Doors open at 1 p.m.

1:30 p.m. Monday, Girard College, 2101 South College Ave., free, 215-787-2600, philorch.org

Eastern State Penitentiary

The Eastern State Penitentiary is holding special readings of King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail" three times a day at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. from Saturday to Monday. Each reading will be moderated by a civil-rights scholar and on Monday, kids will be able to create artwork in response to the letter.

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Saturday to Monday, Eastern State Penitentiary, 2027 Fairmount Ave., free, 215-236-3300, easternstate.org

National Museum of American Jewish History

The National Museum of American Jewish History is celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with family-friendly performances, arts and crafts, and spotlight talks about social justice on Monday. Admission is free.

10 a.m. to 5 p.m., National Museum of American Jewish History, 101 South Independence Mall East, free, 215-923-3811, nmajh.org

National Liberty Museum

The National Liberty Museum has multiple family-friendly activities planned for its celebration of King's life, including a screening of Mr. Civil Rights: Thurgood Marshall and the NAACP, as well as a scavenger hunt about civil rights. Admission is pay-what-you-wish on Monday.

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, National Liberty Museum, 321 Chestnut St., pay-what-you-wish admission, 215-925-2800, libertymuseum.org

Please Touch Museum

Little ones will be able to create artwork, attend a storytelling session with author and illustrator Rashad Davis, and sing songs inspired by King. There will even be a parade at the end of the day.

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Please Touch Museum, 4231 Avenue of the Republic, $19, 215-581-3181, pleasetouchmuseum.org

Woodmere Art Museum

Woodmere Art Museum is holding a celebration of King's life on Monday, including storytelling sessions, art making, and chances for children to write letters to Mayor Kenney with their families. Admission is free.

12 to 4 p.m. Monday, Woodmere Art Museum, 9201 Germantown Ave., free, 215-247-0476, woodmereartmuseum.org

The Main Line Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration

The Main Line Martin Luther King Association will hold its annual day of programming on Sunday. The event will feature a musical tribute to King by the Sherry Wilson Butler Quartet, Men of Song, and the Hatcher and Muse Family.

3 p.m. Goodhart Hall at Bryn Mawr College, 150 North Merion Ave., Bryn Mawr, free

Interfaith Musical Celebration with the Unity Choir

The Unity Choir, an interfaith musical group with more than 80 members, will perform a concert in honor of King. Selections this year range from Jewish songs to uplifting gospel music. Attendance is free and M'Kor Shalom will also be collecting food donations.

8 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Sunday, Congregation M'Kor Shalom, 850 Evesham Road, Cherry Hill, N.J., free, 856-424-4220, mkorshalom.org

A Conversation with Congressman Dwight Evans

U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans, who represents Pennsylvania's 2nd district in the House of Representatives, will respond to questions from the community on homelessness, immigration, health care, environmental issues, and more. He'll also share ways for citizens to become more involved in shaping the political agenda, in honor of King. The event is hosted by various nonprofit interfaith organizations.

2 p.m. Sunday, Convent of Mercy Auditorium, 515 Montgomery Ave., Merion Station, projecthome.org

New Conversation on Race and Ethnicity

The New Conversation on Race and Ethnicity is holding three events to celebrate King's life. Zion Hill Baptist Church will be hosting a service of remembrance on Sunday at 6 p.m., followed by a conversation with youth leaders and activists at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on Monday at 11 a.m., and culminating in a panel presentation at Philadelphia Media Network at 6 p.m. All events are free but registration is required for the Art Museum event.

Sunday and Monday, various locations, facebook.com