Entry bubble Remembering Martin Luther King Jr.

By: Jake | January 21, 2008 | Category: General

Today federal and state governments recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day, so their offices will be closed (along with banks and some other private enterprises).

Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King's birthday is on January 15th and after much debate nationally, President Ronald Reagan signed a law in 1983 designating the third Monday in January as the official federal holiday. This is consistent with Washington's Birthday, which is February 22nd, but has an official federal holiday on the third Monday of February because of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act.

In 1994, after Coretta Scott King testified before congress in support of making the King Holiday an official national day of humanitarian service, President Bill Clinton signed the Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday and Service Act. The Act expanded the mission of the holiday as a day of community service, interracial cooperation and youth anti-violence initiatives.

The Corporation for National and Community Service says participation in the King Day for Service is increasing every year. The MLKDay.gov website has ways for you to get involved with volunteer opportunities all over the country.

So if you have the day off, go and help live out Dr. King's dream.

| View Comments [2] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: community   holidays   jake   jr.   king   luther   martin   service   volunteering  

 

Entry bubble Volunteer: It’s the Gift That Keeps on Giving

By: Sam | December 05, 2007 | Category: Home and Family

One of my 2007 New Year’s goals (I don’t like saying resolutions) was to volunteer more.  And with a new year right around the corner, I have to admit I wasn’t that successful in achieving it.  Like many, I found it much easier to give financially than to give my time.

However, this goal will be back at the top of my 2008 list, and this time I intend to follow through.  Before Thanksgiving, some friends and I volunteered at Food & Friends, a wonderful D.C. organization that prepares, packages, and delivers meals and groceries to more than 1,300 people living with HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other life-challenging illnesses.  I also have become involved with One Brick whose motto, ‘commitment-free volunteering,’ is great for a busy gal like me.

I really like these two organizations, but I also want to find some others to share my time with.  Thankfully, USA.gov has a great “Public Service and Volunteerism” page that can help make my search easier.   From volunteer opportunities at national parks to the Smithsonian, there’s something for everyone no matter where your interests lie.

I found the following three sites to be very useful in helping me match my interests (reading, music, the environment) and talents (shopping, multi-tasking, knowledge of all things pop culture) with organizations around the D.C. area.  Please feel free to share other helpful sites along with your volunteering experiences in the comment section.

  • USA Freedom Corps:  Helps you find service opportunities that match your interests and talents in your hometowns, across the country, or around the world.  You can also learn how to earn the President’s Volunteer Service Award.
  • NationalService.gov:  The Corporation for National & Community Service offers information about volunteering and administers several volunteer programs, including AmeriCorps and SeniorCorps.
  • Volunteer.Gov/Gov:  A single, easy-to-use web portal with information about volunteer opportunities.  You can search by keyword, state, activity, agency, and/or date range.

| View Comments [1] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: resolutions   usa.gov   volunteer   volunteering