Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was founded as a day of remembrance for one of America’s most impactful civil rights leaders. One of his defining qualities was his focus on giving back to others. On the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, people all around the nation band together to keep his spirit of positivity and volunteerism alive.
President Obama started the United We Serve initiative to ensure there was a national focus on service in our communities. The MLK Day of Service is a holiday activity closely tied to that initiative.
On January 16, the Corporation for National and Community Service will call upon hundreds of thousands of Americans to make a pledge to service. The work begins that day, but the hope is that people stay committed to serving their communities throughout 2017. The MLK Day of Service is simply the kickoff.
Throughout the actual day, volunteers can participate in events in their communities. They can even create and register their own projects as part of the program. Some of the many activities taking place are Hunger Free America’s soup kitchen meals, Day of Outreach’s door-to-door education of tenant rights, ConSERVE NYC’s Morningside Park cleanup and a disaster preparedness day provided by the Retired & Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP).
There’s no limit to how volunteers can give back. Whether it’s restoring a park or hosting a free seminar for local residents, any and all volunteerism is accepted.
For most of us, the new year may have kicked off on January 1. But for those who are dedicated to giving back and advancing their communities, the MLK Day of Service is their official start to a new year of positivity and advancement.