Remember. Celebrate. Act. Every third Monday in January, our country comes together to recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a “day on, not a day off.”
Did you know MLK Jr. Day is the only federal holiday designated as a National Day of Service? For more than a quarter of a century, it has served as encouragement for all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities.
Through his vision of nationwide peace and harmony, Dr. King inspired us to give back to our own neighborhoods, even if it’s just for an hour or two. Instead of merely revisiting Dr. King’s principles on an annual basis, this day of service provides an outlet for us to put action behind words and “walk the walk.”
Luckily, we’re fortunate to have a dedicated organization in Birmingham that promotes this kind of service year-round. United Way Hands On invites all community members to roll up their sleeves during MLK Jr. Day of Service on Monday, January 17, 2022.
United Way Hands On has several volunteer opportunities for families and individuals to choose from, including garden clean-up at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, trash removal in local neighborhoods and landscaping at Birmingham-Southern College Ecoscape.
As a Hands On cabinet member and project coordinator, Debbie Williams has felt the rewarding benefits of volunteering with the organization on various projects. She sees how Hands On works hard to improve health and wellbeing throughout Central Alabama. By participating in MLK Day Jr. Day of Service, you can be a part of that mission, too.
“Considering an MLK service opportunity with Hands On encourages you to be compassionate while working with a diverse range of people from all walks of life,” said Debbie. “The team at Hands On provides life experiences while respecting your availability.”
Dr. King was a powerful advocate for the betterment of all people. A great way to honor his memory is by connecting with other service-minded volunteers and advocating for your community and the people within it.
Even though there are many volunteer initiatives to choose from in the Birmingham area, working with United Way Hands On is a special experience. The team brings not only the tools for the task at hand, but also a promise to ensure everyone gets the full volunteer experience.
“My time and experience with Hands On has been rewarding,” said Debbie. “This team always keeps that open dialogue by providing a pleasant attitude, knowledge and resources needed to get the job done. While working with this team, there’s never been a time when they didn’t take things a step further to exceed, rather than just meet, the normal expectations.”
Take advantage of the 28th anniversary of the National Day of Service this year. Use it to pay respect to a great leader and put boots on the ground to work side-by-side with friends and strangers alike in a unified effort to build a stronger community for us all.
View and register for United Way Hands On MLK Jr. Day of Service opportunities by clicking here. Looking for more ways to get involved? Visit the Hands On website.