Monday, January 15 marks the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. federal holiday. This is a perfect opportunity for Americans to honor Dr. King’s legacy through service so find an in-person or virtual opportunity to serve others!
The MLK Day of Service empowers individuals, strengthens communities, bridges barriers, creates solutions to social problems, and moves us closer to Dr. King’s vision of a beloved community. In 1994, Congress designated the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday as a national day of service and charged the Corporation for National and Community Service with leading this effort. Taking place each year on the third Monday in January, the MLK Day of Service is the only federal holiday observed as a national day of service – a “day on, not a day off.” The MLK Day of Service is a part of United We Serve, the President’s national call to service initiative. It calls for Americans from all walks of life to work together to provide solutions to our most pressing national problems. The MLK Day of Service empowers individuals, strengthens communities, bridges barriers, creates solutions to social problems, and moves us closer to Dr. King’s vision of a “Beloved Community.”
As Points of Light recent newsletter says: Find a volunteer opportunity or a volunteer center near you at www.pointsoflight.org/MLK. If you’d like volunteers to come help your cause or nonprofit, click “start project.” As Dr. King famously said, “Everybody can be great because everybody can serve.”
Dr. King believed in a nation of freedom and justice for all and encouraged all citizens to live up to the purpose and potential of America by applying the principles of nonviolence to make this country a better place to live—creating the Beloved Community. The MLK Day of Service is a way to transform Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and teachings into community action that helps solve social problems. That service may meet a tangible need, or it may meet a need of the spirit. On this day, Americans of every age and background celebrate Dr. King through service projects that strengthen communities, empower individuals, bridge barriers, and create solutions.
Families who volunteer together make our world a better place — make doing for others a way of life! Learn how you can participate on MLK Day of Service – find a project to model or research online in CT through United Way. Join the Youth Corps of Kids in Crisis, a group of high school volunteers from throughout Fairfield County who are dedicated to furthering the Agency’s mission. Youth Corps members plan activities for our youngest residents (newborn – age 12); volunteer for special events; organize fundraisers, clothing, food and toy drives, and much more!
To support your efforts, Kidtivity.com will list local Connecticut volunteer opportunities as we learn of them. “WHAT ARE YOU DOING FOR OTHERS?” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 1957
1/15 Lachat Town Farm, Weston: an event for you to take part in all day, both at home and at the farm. Their goal is to donate 400 kindness bags to Filling in the Blanks, a Norwalk-based non-profit that provides children with meals on the weekends over the state of CT.
1/15 Ambler Farm, Wilton: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Giving invites you to a blood drive in collaboration with the American Red Cross – register online.
1/15 Community Art Projects Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art
For more articles on volunteering read past “Give to Others” posts.
