Get Involved: Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. has made a profound mark on the world we live in today. He is the only non-president to have a national holiday dedicated in his honor—created by an act of Congress in 1983— and the only non-president memorialized in the Mall in Washington, DC. In 1994, Congress designated MLK Day a national day of service, the sole federal holiday observed in this way.
Why MLK Day? Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. himself was a great advocate for serving others and the community. One of his famous quotes reads: “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?'” This is a great call to action for all of us wanting to honor his life and service. The goal is to transform Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s teachings into community action. This service can include meeting tangible needs or simply uplifting the spirit of others.
So we hope you’ll consider January 19 “a day on, not a day off,” and join people from all over the country who serve by doing volunteer projects that strengthen and improve our communities.
How can you get involved? There are many different avenues, and the project doesn’t even have to take place on January 19. Any service project you do this month can be considered part of the national day of service. Service projects include activities such as food/clothing drives, writing thank you cards for soldiers or first-responders at home, and doing on-site volunteer work with a nonprofit in the area. Be creative!
A great resource to start with is our very own, United Way Volunteer Connect. Here you will find a list of agencies and projects for any willing volunteer. Our site is steadily growing,
so check back often for more projects, opportunities, and ideas.
Other projects that can be done alone or with a group:
- Pick up trash and clean up your neighborhood
- Collect blankets or toiletries for the homeless
- Collect school supplies for children
- Call a local nonprofit, YMCA, community center or other organization and ask how you can help. We guarantee there will be opportunities to serve!
If you need help finding a nonprofit in your area with whom to volunteer or assist in another way, contact us. And if you do plan to participate in this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, let us know. We’d love to hear from you.
Get Connected. Volunteer.
Kristin Woods I Volunteer Coordinator I United Way of Southwest Alabama
218 St. Francis Street I Mobile, Alabama 36602 I (251) 433-3624 I www.uwswa.org