Americans urged to volunteer on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service

Created on Wednesday, 13 January 2010 11:58 Last Updated on Monday, 03 December 2012 19:20 Published on Wednesday, 13 January 2010 11:58 Written by Courier Newsroom Hits: 1829

Washington, D.C.—With the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service just days away, the Corporation for National and Community Service is urging Americans to honor Dr. King’s memory and further his legacy by joining in service projects in their communities on the Jan. 18 King holiday.

Momentum is building for the annual day of service, with thousands of projects planned across the country. The CNCS is leading the national effort, working in partnership with the King Center, nonprofit and faith-based groups, national service programs, and schools and businesses to encourage Americans to serve on the holiday and throughout the year.

“Martin Luther King devoted his life to advancing equality, social justice, and opportunity for all, and taught us that everyone has a role to play in making America what it ought to be,” said Nicola Goren, the cncs’ acting CEO. “By making King Day ‘a day on, not a day off,’ and using the holiday as a springboard for service throughout the year, we can renew our communities and our country as we help realize Dr. King’s dream of building the Beloved Community.”

Americans are encouraged to visit Serve.gov/mlkday to find volunteer opportunities in their communities or to create their own projects. Service opportunities range from feeding the hungry and refurbishing local schools to weatherizing homes and providing employment counseling. Many organizations use the day to recruit volunteers to serve throughout the year. Below are highlights of some projects planned for the day of service.

Philadelphia, Pa.—As many as 70,000 volunteers are expected to serve in more than 1,000 projects throughout the greater Philadelphia area, the largest King Day effort in the nation. Volunteers will assemble and pack weatherization kits for families in underserved communities, beautify city recreation centers, prepare meals, donate blood, train reading coaches and sign up for volunteer opportunities throughout the year at a MLK365 Civic Engagement Expo.

Washington D.C.—Mayor Adrian M. Fenty will use MLK Day to kick off its Cities of Service initiative and is calling on all district citizens to serve at a range of projects including an outdoor soup kitchen, clothing distribution, preparing meals for homeless shelters, job-shadowing and school beautification projects.

Miami, Fla.—HandsOn Miami and Youth Service America are joining forces with 700 volunteers to revitalize Town Park Village, a public low-income housing facility, and volunteers with Service for Peace are cleaning and landscaping a county park.