QUINCY - Samantha Goldthwaite started volunteering for the Quincy nonprofit Cradles to Crayons three years ago at age 8. She learned then that the average age of a homeless person in Massachusetts was also 8, and it made her think about children who didn’t have as much as she did.

Since then, the Braintree resident has sorted clothes and shoes, counted puzzle pieces, cleaned and inspected toys and stuffed backpacks for poor children. She’s also processed donations for Hurricane Katrina victims, raised money at a walk to fight childhood poverty and helped organize donation drives at her elementary school.

Yesterday, she returned with her mother and younger sister, and several dozen other youngsters, to volunteer in honor of the Rev. Martin Luther King’s 78th birthday.

“It just gave me a connection with the kids I was helping,” said Samantha, 11, during a pizza break. “In the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr., he was a person who encouraged people to serve their communities.”

The charity, based on Myrtle Street, collects donations of clothing, toys and supplies,- including cribs, car seats, board games and other items - for children up to age 12.

Last year about 7,000 volunteers donated time in its warehouse, one-third of whom were youngsters, not including those in community drives. They helped about 25,000 children.

Yesterday’s event was a kickoff for distributing shoes from the Inaugural Children’s Footwear Drive, which has collected more than 10,000 shoes in pledges, including about 2,000 during an inaugural event for Gov. Deval Patrick on Jan. 3 in Worcester and the inaugural gala Jan. 4.

“Our goal is Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a day on, not a day off,” said Jennifer White of Milton, director of development. “We are all about service here.”

“It’s the best way, I think, to respect him today,” added Kristy- Ann Eldridge of Plymouth, who led a group of volunteers from Bridgewater State College. “To be able to give up their time is so important.”

More than 125 volunteers turned out yesterday, including about 40 from Bridgewater State College and several dozen families, to sort and process sneakers, boots, socks and other essential goods for needy children.

“It’s just a great opportunity to get kids involved. They feel empowered. They come in here and feel they’re helping kids,” said Michelle Goldthwaite, Samantha’s mother.

Before lunch, volunteers loaded 500 shoes, as well as socks and winter gear, into a truck for New Bedford children.

“I want to say thank you to all of you because these children really need these shoes,” said Karen Regan, supervisor of nurses for the New Bedford schools.

Sydney Schwartz may be reached at sschwartz@ledger.com.

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