By KELLY URBAN
JOHNSTOWN — Martin Luther King Jr. challenged people to step up and help others and question what they can do to make the world a better place.
It’s that philosophy that inspired members of the Southwest Pennsylvania AmeriCorps Alums chapter to spend Monday rejuvenating and sprucing up the Little Learning Lamp preschool in Westmont Borough using grant money received for a service project.
“This is a great way to bring people together to make a difference, and we hope it will be the beginning of an ongoing commitment to serve throughout the year,” said Jessica Pulliam, chapter leader and Windber resident.
“Dr. King exemplified civil rights, civic responsibility and uniting people of all backgrounds to act on community concerns, so there is no better or more meaningful way to honor his legacy than by serving others.”
More than 20 volunteers rolled up their sleeves and got busy ripping up carpets, waxing floors, cleaning bathrooms and windows, painting and sanitizing play areas.
“We’re doing a complete overhaul so this place will be a better environment for children to learn,” Pulliam said.
Pulliam said she wrote the grant through the organization, and the chapter was one of
11 AmeriCorps in the country to be selected. They received $500 and had to match that by
200 percent, giving the group roughly $1,500 to work with.
“We’ve done service projects for the past 12 years, but this was the first time we received grant money, and that has made a big difference and allowed us to purchase more supplies,” she said.
Pulliam hopes the work AmeriCorps does will inspire others and that the children who come to the center will someday be able to pay it forward.
“Kids will remember what we’ve done here today, and hopefully, they will want to find ways to give back,” she said.
The project was one of thousands that took place nationwide to honor Martin Luther King’s legacy. Volunteers built homes, delivered meals, refurbished schools and community centers, beautified parks and neighborhoods and engaged in civic activities to improve lives and strengthen communities.
