On a typical Saturday, the parking lot and street in front of Bridgeport Child Development Centers I and II, programs of One Hope United, are empty—void of the normal hubbub of weekday with parents dropping of their children at the neighborhood early learning center. But on this particular Saturday in January, one would stumble on three buses full of adult volunteers over flowing the child care centers to participate in Chicago Cares‘ 2011 Celebration of Service honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy of service to others and volunteerism.

“This was the first year One Hope United partnered with Chicago Cares,” said Jenaeth Markaj, development associate for One Hope United. “We were absolutely thrilled and humbled by the number of volunteers that showed up so early on a Saturday morning to help us spruce up the early education centers for the day.”

One Hope United welcomed more than 100 volunteers from all over Chicagoland, and even as far as Wisconsin, at the two child development centers in the Bridgeport neighborhood. The day was organized by the Chicago Cares organization with people that participated from volunteer groups including USG, Target, Bogan High School and Bowan High School.

Chicago Cares is a nonprofit organization that matches individuals, businesses, and other groups with one-time and ongoing volunteer opportunities that address the city’s most compelling human service, educational and environmental needs. Through its partnerships with local nonprofit agencies, Chicago Cares seeks to promote a sense of community and foster an ethic of volunteerism within the city of Chicago.

Chicago Cares volunteers repainted all of the classrooms in the Bridgeport Child Development Center II location. At Bridgeport Child Development Center I, the teams created four murals: one healthy living mural painted on the wall of the cafeteria, a multi-cultural family tree for the building lobby, a mosaic tile mural and an active living mural for the gym. Volunteers also constructed benches and banner stands, built cubby holes and reorganized the resource room.

Watch this cute video of some children at the Bridgeport Child Development Center I viewing a mural by the Chicago Cares volunteers for the first time: