MEDWAY - A local Girl Scout Troop is encouraging service to the community this Martin Luther King Day by holding an event benefiting various charitable causes.

Medway's "Day of Giving Back," hosted by Girl Scout Troop 3376, will take place at the Burke-Memorial School Cafeteria from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday.

Lisa Lekas, a parent leader of the troop, said the event will have a number of local groups set up stations throughout the cafeteria, with the intent of doing service work to help worthy causes. The troop itself, she said, will be assembling care bags for cancer patients, while the National Honor Society will put together lunch bags for the local food pantry, and the Board of Selectmen will collect diapers to support the Medway House Family Shelter.

Lekas said the troop hopes for good community participation, and has been working to get the word out about the event. Members of the public can come in and assist the project that most appeals to them.

"The girls have put out a post on the 'Friends of Medway' Facebook page, and the Board of Selectmen have put it on their page as well," she said. "It's been posted around town - at the library, T.C. Scoops (ice cream shop) and Medway Extended Day (day care)."

Dunkin' Donuts and the Muffin House Cafe will donate refreshments for the event.

According to Lekas, this is the first time the local Girl Scouts have hosted a "giving back" day.

"My troop is a group of seniors at Medway High School," she said, adding that members of the group joined the scouts at the beginner Daisy level. "This is their 12th year together and this was their idea for a final service project for the town."

The troop hopes that another group of Girl Scouts will pick up the day next year.

"We hope the momentum starts to grow, and next year's event is even bigger," Lekas said.

Mike Gleason can be reached at 508-634-7546 or mgleason@wickedlocal.com. For news throughout the day, follow him on Twitter @MGleason_MDN.