The breezy, frigid, air did not prevent hundreds of people from coming out to gather on the steps of Cambridge’s City Hall. And even though the third Monday of every January is a national holiday in the U.S.A., instead of ‘lamping’ on their couches folks came out to serve despite their day off.

Volunteers heard the call from Many Helping Hands and arrived to accomplish a number of tasks in the center of Cambridge, MA: create scarves and blankets for the homeless; design cards for seniors; drop food and clothing for those in need; and much more. http://manyhelpinghands.blogspot.com/

That is the force of Many Helping Hands a- group of women who decided about three years ago to make year round volunteering their mission. North Cambridge resident Lori Lander guides the bunch, and helps set the agenda along with her friends.

One of those friends was Eva Martin Blythe, the executive director of the Cambridge YWCA http://www.ywcacam.org/ Blythe has pledged to let Many Helping Hands use the Y’s facility for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday ‘serving’ celebration.

Another place where people could serve for three hours on MLK’s day was the Senior Center in Central Square. Ellen Semenoff, director of the city’s Department of Human Services used her influence to open up the building that day. Semenoff ‘rocked’ her shiny earrings shaped like a tiny hand and glowed while holding the doors of the center wide open for scores of serving citizens. http://www2.cambridgema.gov/dhsp/

Of course, this all occurred minutes after witnessing Lori Lander thank sponsors and laud those who serve; it happened after City Councilors, Reeves, Simmons, vanBeuzekom and others lined City Hall steps to hear Toni Bee, Poet Populist of Cambridge, read a poem about serving http://bit.ly/beeMLKpoem

In fact, the volunteering began just after hand clapping and head bobbing to singer/storyteller Valerie Stephens’ rendition of ‘This Little Light of Mine” http://www.valeriestephens.com/index.html

Stephens sang in a lilting alto and tipped her way down the steps of Cambridge City Hall. The abundance of those who chose to serve followed her “piping’ self through the doors of the Senior Center to begin much needed work.

Photos, video and words by Toni Bee