Volunteers across Philadelphia honored the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday by packing food, building literacy resources and taking part in one of the nation’s largest Day of Service events.

At the Share Food Program, volunteers spent the day assembling boxes of food for senior citizens and others in need. It’s one of many service projects happening throughout the city.

A few miles away at Temple University, thousands filled Pearson and McGonigle halls for the 31st annual Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service, the oldest and largest MLK Day event in the nation.

“This is more than just a birthday celebration. It’s an opportunity to embrace Dr. King’s values of civil rights and social justice, to make them our own,” said Todd Bernstein, an organizer of the event.

This year’s theme was “equity in education.”

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker were among those who helped build 25 “book arcs,” which will provide free books to organizations serving underserved communities.

“Dr. King believed that education was a fundamental right to breaking cycles of poverty and achieving change, and education and literacy are still barriers,” Bernstein said.

Scholastic donated 3,000 books for the initiative, and organizers said the book arcs will be shipped to community organizations.

“It’s a collective effort harnessing the resources of the community,” Bernstein said.

The event featured more than 100 organizations hosting service projects, workshops, a children’s carnival and a job fair.

Mayor Parker said Philadelphia plays a key role in honoring King’s legacy.

“Philadelphia and what we do here is the anchor to celebrate the legacy of Dr. King’s hard work over all of those years across the world,” Parker said.

Shapiro encouraged continued civic engagement and service.

“Now is a time to engage, now is a time to do that collective service the way Dr. King taught us,” he said.

Community leaders and participants said the event reflected King’s emphasis on unity and action.

“There’s no greater example than him,” said Kenny Johnson with the Phillies’ community engagement team. “The fact that there’s a whole day dedicated to it, where folks, even though it’s a day off from work, folks still come out. They still put their time in, their energy into doing some great things. It’s just awesome to see everyone together in this big room together.”

Shalisa Brunson, president of the National Council of Negro Women Delaware Valley, said the collaboration among organizations was especially meaningful.

“I think he definitely would be proud just to see the work that we’re doing as organizations coming together, and not just one organization, but us kind of holding hands and linking arms together to put on events such as this,” Brunson said.

Organizers said they hope the MLK Day activities serve as a springboard for volunteers and attendees to continue acts of service throughout the year.