The Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service
Providing Opportunities for Community Participation Across the US
Jan 9, 2009
Each year in January, Americans honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. A proponent of civil rights, social justice, and non-violent resistance, King is often cited as an inspiration to those who work tirelessly to serve their communities and create lasting change in the United States. As such, the King Day of Service was created as a way to encourage individuals to give back to their community.
The King Day of Service website states that the “aim is to make the holiday a day ON, where people of all ages and backgrounds come together to improve lives…and move our nation closer to the ‘Beloved Community’ that Dr. King envisioned.” The three over-arching goals for the day of service are to strengthen communities, empower individuals, and bridge barriers.
Those Looking to Volunteer
In order to achieve the event's three goals, a database of projects has been established to guide participation. Individuals can search for projects in any of the US states (as well as several territories, including Guam and Puerto Rico). It is free to search the database and inquiries can be narrowed according to specific criteria, such as the city in which a potential participant lives. Once a search is completed, the detailed results page will list the name of each organization that meets the selected criteria and will give a brief description of the corresponding project.
No matter what type of project a person is interested in, whether it’s helping in a soup kitchen, volunteering for a children’s hospital, assisting in an animal shelter, providing clerical assistance to an under-funded or under-staffed non-profit, or visiting the elderly in a retirement home, there are numerous opportunities to go around. Once a project of interest is located, simply select the “Click Here to Sign Up” button and register. It’s that simple!
Agencies Wishing to Submit Projects
Although little could be accomplished without dedicated volunteers, they are not the only ones needed to make this event a success; securing the involvement of agencies and organizations that need assistance is also a crucial component. Accordingly, the Day of Service organizers are seeking input and suggestions for feasible projects. After creating a free account on the website, an organization can add a project to the database so that all potential volunteers can locate the opportunity. This project can be short-term (just for the day) or longer-term in the hopes of securing a volunteer beyond the the Day of Service. This coordination between the Day of Service organizers, the participating agencies, and the volunteers allows the organizations to bring their needs to the forefront, helps ensure that viable service pairings are made, and helps guarantee that the Day of Service will truly uphold its vision of strengthening, empowering, and bridging barriers.
Join In!
On January 19, 2009, the King Day of Service is hoping to have its biggest and most successful turn-out yet. With thousands of projects across the country, there is ample opportunity to meet tangible needs and create lasting change for our communities. So, let’s make this a truly memorable day ON!
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