The crisis in Haiti may have us all thinking globally but Monday many of us took action locally as the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service sent tens of thousands of volunteers into action.
While millions of dollars were being raised for Haiti via text messaging and online donations, people all across the country got up and got busy feeding the homeless, working in community gardens, reading to children, painting schools, and building houses. Some organizations re-focused efforts so that Haitian earthquake victims were the beneficiaries of so much organized effort. But most kept their “eyes on the prize” by coming out in force to help their neighbors.
Some highlights…
Buchanan, WI – Students from Lawrence University read to elementary school children and cleaned and painted a local church.
North Philadelphia, PA – Volunteers painted the T.M. Peirce Elementary School.
Porterdale, GA – More than 100 volunteers created a new community garden.
Little Rock, AR – Arkansas Food Bank Network volunteers sorted, labeled, and stocked shelves.
Santa Rosa, CA – A crew of nurses volunteered to test blood sugar, check blood pressure, lead exercise classes and give vaccines.
Cleveland, OH – Students presented a play that dramatized the intense planning that went into the 1960 Woolworth lunch counter sit-in.
The White House – Installed a rare signed copy of the Emancipation Proclamation in the Oval Office; The President and his family served at a soup kitchen.
It was a good day to be thankful for what we have and grateful for the opportunity to make a difference. For many, this day of service will continue throughout the year. Let us know your volunteer plans for 2010. We’d be happy to tell others all about it – and encourage everyone to do it again…
Related Posts
Tags: community, Day of Service, food bank, Martin Luther King, volunteer
