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                                                      Volunteer
                                                      Martin Luther King, Jr., National Day of Service

              MLK Day Resources
      Martin Luther King, Jr., National Day of ServiceMLK Day ChampionsMLK Day Resources
                Communication Resources

MLK Day Toolkit

Collage of volunteers serving

Access our MLK Day Toolkit to find messaging, communication resources, social media, graphics, and more.

Access Toolkit

Project Ideas and Tips

Find self-starter project ideas, tips, and resources to get started planning your MLK Day project below. Remember to register your service project with us so we can help spread the word about your event and inspire others to serve. Find more resources and events from the King Center.

                    


    Recruit and Train Volunteers
  Toggle
  Take advantage of this day off to train volunteers to serve throughout the year. They will leave prepared to be effective volunteers and help you accomplish your mission.

      


Host a Discussion
  Toggle
  Dr. King's life and teachings
	Dr. King’s principles of non-violence
	Host a discussion across generations 
	Generations over Dinner: Honor Dr. King and host your own conversations over dinner (or other meal) that foster a sense of constructive action, civic participation, and belonging and combat the corrosive effects of hate on our democracy and safety. Learn more.

      


Assist with Job Readiness
  Toggle
  Help people in your community get job ready:

Resume writing
	Interview skills
	Dressing for success
	Research training programs
	Help individuals complete a job application or application for a training program

      


Address Food Insecurity
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  Serve meals at a homeless shelter
	Bring meals to homebound neighbors and consider signing up to be a regular volunteer with local meal delivery services like Meals on Wheels
	Organize a food drive or even start or plan a community garden. When organizing a food drive make sure to check with the food pantry or food bank to see what’s needed and how you can be most helpful.
	Teach healthy eating on a budget
	Sign up for the End Hunger Challenge, a five-day online curriculum from the Congressional Hunger Center.

      


Promote Healthy Futures
  Toggle
  Help others get vaccinated or find a testing location
	Do you know individuals who have not yet gotten a COVID-19 vaccine? You can serve others by helping them get vaccinated. Find tools to help you have a conversation, and use these resources to find a vaccine location near you or a COVID test.
	Arrange a health fair or dental clinic
	Organize a blood donor drive
	Register bone marrow and organ donors
	Information about bone marrow donation
		Information about organ donation
	Organize a drug take back
	You can find a collection site near you. Click on the collection site locator and input your information.

      


Beautify the Community
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  Remove graffiti from a building and paint a mural
	Create community green spaces by planting trees, grass, and flowers, especially in locations that may lack adequate green space
	Reclaim a park or abandoned space for community use
	Become a volunteer with a local, state, or national park

      


Prepare the Community for Emergency and Crisis Situations
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  Distribute fire safety information and check for working smoke detectors
	Make and distribute disaster preparedness kits
	Host working sessions to help economically vulnerable citizens
	Share resources or apps that neighbors can use to help each other if disaster strikes
	Be your own first responder
	Check out tools and information about disaster and emergencies planning

      


Provide Other Community Service to Neighbors and Families
  Toggle
  Help low-income families find free tax preparation services and take advantage of the earned income tax credit
	Shovel elderly neighbors' walkways, clear leaves or help with other yard maintenance
	Participate in or create a neighborhood watch program
	Install smoke detectors or distribute batteries and install new batteries for those who have detectors. (Check with your local Red Cross and/or Fire Department to understand the greatest need.)
	Weatherize homes (Local churches may have a good idea of community members who need assistance.)
	Get free tools to help you run a coat or clothing drive in your community.
	Volunteer with the National Alliance to End Homelessness and participate in the Point-in-Time Countto help those experiencing homelessness in your community.

      


Help New Refugees
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  Learn how you can help refugees and take action on MLK Day.

      


Support Those Who Are Recovering from Disasters
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  The National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster serves as a clearing house for anyone who wants to help communities and individuals recover from disasters. Learn about what you can do.

      


Combat Climate Change
  Toggle
  Mulch the base of trees and plants
	Start a compost
	Tend a garden
	Develop a project to help your church or home conserve rain and stormwater.
	Educate about safer cleaning products for homes and other facilities.
	Insulate windows. WindowDressers provides free or low-cost inserts for volunteers to install in Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, or Massachusetts.
	Learn more about climate justice.
	Learn more about environmental justice projects and programs at the Environmental Protection Agency.
	Get more project ideas and tools: 
	Multisolving Institute
		Council on Environmental Quality
		Drawdown Ecochallenge

      


Supporting P-12 Student Success
  Toggle
  Focus on recruiting and training additional volunteers for high impact, **student-support roles** such as tutors, mentors, student success coaches, and post-secondary transition coaches
	Host **training** or conduct a **FAFSA completion event** to help student access federal student aid
	Support students to draft or revise college admissions essays
	Host a career fair to provide middle and high school students with an opportunity to learn about various career paths that are available at local companies
	Help students prepare for and lead a discussion or presentation about Dr. King’s **life and teachings** for community members
	Beautify school buildings and grounds to provide a welcoming environment for students and educators
	Partnering with a local organization or educators, create take home activities that preschool students can do with their families to get ready for kindergarten (e.g., letter recognition games, board games that allow students to practice using numbers 1-10, etc.)
	Host a **clothing/coat drive** for students and families
	Engage students of all ages in **real-world science**

                    Webinars

Project Ideas to Honor the King Day of Service 2024

*Wednesday, Oct. 25*Watch the recording

Incorporating Bridging and Belonging Practices into MLK Day of Service: How Purposeful Dialogue and Connection Drives Action

*Wednesday, Nov. 1*Watch the recording

Project Ideas That Support P-12 Student Success for the King Day of Service 2024

*Wednesday, Nov. 8*

Watch the recording

Best Practices in Volunteer Mobilization, Management, and Reflection for the King Day of Service 2024

*Wednesday, Nov. 15*

Watch the recording

Tools and Resources to Promote, Engage, and Tell Your 2024 King Day of Service Story

*Wednesday, Dec. 6*

Watch the recording Back to main content Sign up to hear about our latest news, events, and opportunities.
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