January 21, 2013 marked the 27th anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, a national day of service. Although the Buchanan PR office was closed for the holiday, we chose to spend the day together doing something to give back to our community. Since 2011, Buchanan employees have celebrated MLK Day by making casseroles for the homeless.
Over coffee, bagels and weekend gossip, we cook together and deliver the finished casseroles to the Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, which distributes food to homeless shelters throughout Philadelphia.
As news junkies, this year’s MLK Day celebration had the added bonus of offering us the opportunity to watch President Obama’s second inauguration (including Malia’s dance moves and Beyonce’s lip-synching crisis). Amidst the critiques of White House A-listers’ fashion choices, we made a total of 10 meals: green bean casseroles, ham and cheese noodle delight, bowtie pasta Florentine and even lasagna.
To cap off our team-building day of service, we enjoyed pizza while sharing and laughing at one another’s babysitting horror stories. This year’s MLK Day gave me the chance to think about what service really means.
Even though our acts were small, they will be greatly appreciated by those who are less fortunate. It’s easy to forget how lucky we are, and more often than not, we get lost in the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives. MLK Day was the perfect opportunity for us to take a break from work and give back to our community. I’m lucky to be part of a company that’s not just about public relations, but also community relations.