Shelly Lipscomb-Echeverria, MLK Day chairperson with MLK365, calls for volunteers.
Want to volunteer on on Martin Luther King Jr. Day?
MLK365 put out a call Monday for hundreds of helpers for a variety of service projects happening next Monday, Jan. 19. The group’s annual Central Pennsylvania MLK Day of Service volunteer campaign asks Harrisburg residents to serve their communities on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
“It’s really important to give back to our friends and neighbors, particularly where we live and work,” Marisa Tokarsky, MLK365 community organizer, explained. “Even the smallest effort can put a smile on someone’s face.”
MLK365 has more than 15 service projects listed on its website with active signup lists for volunteers, and Tokarsky said volunteers can look forward to feeling good about their work.
“The amount of self-pride and smiles that you’re going to get from giving back and helping others? There’s nothing like it,” she said.
For example, Wildheart Ministries is asking for help with spring cleaning. The First Baptist Church of Steelton needs volunteers for painting and drywall installation. The West Shore Theater is calling for hands for an alley cleanup. Other volunteer requests include those from Beahive Affordable Housing Outreach, “FLOW” For the Love of Women and Caitlin’s Smiles.
Volunteers will be able to give blood as part of the day of service this year. On Monday, the Central Penn Blood Bank will be taking blood donations at the Alexander Grass Campus for Jewish Life, and the Red Cross will be taking donations at Goodwin Memorial Baptist Church.
MLK365’s theme for service day this year is “Illuminating Voices of Courage and Hope.” Shelly Lipscomb-Echeverria, MLK Day chairperson, explained the group hopes to shed light on the power of donating to those in need.
“I tell my kids that I might not be able to have much influence on what’s going on in the world or the nation, but what I can do is ask people for donations and use that money to help buy hats for people who are cold, help buy food for people who are hungry,” Lipscomb-Echeverria said, “and do projects like we’re going to do on the 19th to help bring hope to members of our community.”
This is MLK365’s 17th year championing volunteer efforts on MLK Day to help those in need.
For more information or to volunteer, visit MLK365’s website. To host a service project, fill out this form. Projects are added to the MLK365’s site as they are submitted by organizers.
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