“Now is our time to change the world. Selma is now.” said the actor and rapper Common upon accepting a 2015 Golden Globe award for a song from the film, “Selma.” The historical drama is based on the 1965 voting rights marches led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other civil rights leaders. As we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. King on January 19th, I hope that many will take those words to heart by volunteering, and make the holiday a day on, not just another day off.
According to the Corporation for National and Community Service, on the 2014 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service citizens in all 50 states delivered meals, refurbished schools and community centers, and collected food and clothing for the needy. Volunteers also recruited mentors, supported job-seekers, built homes and provided other services for veterans and military families, and helped citizens improve their financial literacy skills.
Because many parents have the day off from work, it is a holiday especially well-suited for families to volunteer. United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County is coordinating a special inter-generational service event with Land of Sky Regional Council Senior Corps. The event will include multiple stations where volunteers can participate in projects that directly support local nonprofits and the community members they serve. One of the stations will be a place where parents can read to their children about Dr. King, and United Way will offer coloring sheets and puzzles that are tied to MLK Day. Volunteers also will have the opportunity to create simple, no-sew fleece blankets for Project Linus clients; math skills flashcards/games for Buncombe County School elementary students; handcrafted cards of encouragement for local veterans and homebound seniors; and more.
I hope you will join the hundreds of thousands of people who serve on MLK Day and throughout the year. You can find a volunteer opportunity in your community through your local United Way and you may also register your own MLK Day project so that volunteers can find it. You can share your story below, on United Way’s Facebook page or on Serve.gov. Your stories will help us highlight the many ways Americans are honoring Dr. King through service, improving lives, making a difference in our communities, and changing our world.