Lower School students learned about the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his legacy of service to others this month. As part of a meaningful service project, they also created birthday cake kits to support clients of the Southborough Food Pantry.

During a Lower School Morning Meeting, students enjoyed a presentation from Service Learning Coordinator Christina Berthelsen. She highlighted Dr. King’s impact as a civil rights leader and advocate for equality,  explaining why his birthday is a national holiday in the United States. Christina also shared a book that captured the story of Dr. King’s life, his remarkable courage, and his enduring message of peaceful protest. 

Inspired by a visit to the Southborough Food Pantry with Upper School students this fall, Christina led the Lower School in a project to mark Dr. King’s birthday with service to others. She introduced the concept of food insecurity to the students, highlighting that 34% of families in Massachusetts experience some level of food insecurity and that the Southborough Food Pantry regularly supports over 70 local families. Christina emphasized that food insecurity often means families must prioritize essentials over celebratory treats like birthday cakes. To address this need, she guided the students in creating birthday cake kits, which will be available to families through the Southborough Food Pantry.

Students collaborated in grade-level teams to assemble the birthday cake kits. Fifth and sixth graders carefully packed cake mix, frosting, candles, handmade birthday cards, and a can of soda into each package. They were delighted to discover a creative baking tip when Christina explained that in the absence of milk and eggs, a can of Sprite can be used to make yellow cake, while a can of Coke works for chocolate cake! Meanwhile, third and fourth graders designed and assembled colorful birthday banners, stringing the letters into cheerful decorations to include in the kits. We’re incredibly proud of our Lower School students for honoring Dr. King’s legacy by bringing joy to the birthdays of local families in need.