National service participants across North Carolina will celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by volunteering their time to help others on Monday, Jan. 16.
Members will help distribute food, collect books and educate children about the legacy of Dr. King. Gov. Bev Perdue signed a proclamation today in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
“Dr. King’s message of peace, racial equality, social justice and service embodied the spirit of his dream for all Americans,” said Gov. Perdue. “His legacy that unites us as citizens will always live through national service participants who honor his memory through service.”
Volunteers are encouraged to attend these service activities in your local communities.
The following are national service projects that will participate in the MLK Day of Service:
Ashe County
Appalachian State University: Volunteers will collect personal hygiene products, snack food and entertainment items during the month of January to be sent to deployed soldiers serving in the military. The last day to collect items is Jan. 30. For more information, contact Tammy Taylor at 336-846-4898 taylortp@appstate.edu, or Debbie Wellborn at wellbrnda@appstate.edu.
Buncombe County
Project Conserve: Members and volunteers will prepare the community garden beds for spring planting at the Burton Street Community Center Peace Gardens from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 16. For more information, contact Rachel Hodge at 828-692-0385 or rahodge@comcast.net.
Cumberland County
Fayetteville State University: Fayetteville State University will host the “MLK Challenge” to raise awareness and provide aid to the homeless and veterans from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 16. For more information, contact Monique Broadhurst at 910-672-2460 tbroadhu@uncfsu.edu.
Guilford County
AmeriCorps ACCESS and AmeriCorps and Children Together (ACT): Members will assist the Volunteer Center of Greensboro with their MLK event, “Lend a Hand – Live the Dream”, at the Four Seasons Town Centre in Greensboro from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 16. Members will assist with stage management, community service activities such as the children’s project area and assembling military kits. For more information, contact Cynthia Mejia at 336-256-1375 or cynthiamejia66@gmail.com, or Katie Snow at 336-985-2676 or ksnow@stokespfc.com.
Partnership to End Homelessness: Members will prepare a chili dinner and help serve food at the curbside of the Greensboro Central Library from 1 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 14. For more information, contact Kathy Vohs at 336-275-8585 or krvohs@hotmail.com.
Spirit of Excellence: Members will lead various youth activities celebrating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement at the International Civil Rights Museum in Greensboro from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 16. For more information, contact Chris Wallace at 336-542-7768 or cwallace@blackchilddevelopment.org.
Harnett County
Harnett County RSVP: Volunteers will collect food and assist in stocking shelves at the Harnett Food Pantry from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Jan. 14-16. For more information, contact Nancy Wright at 910-814-6075 or nwright@harnett.org.
Orange County
North Carolina Literacy Corps, T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Corps, and RSVP of Orange County: Members have partnered with Book Harvest, a triangle based nonprofit to conduct a book drive that that will benefit needy children from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 16. For more information, contact Lynne Walter at 919-962-5470 or lwalter@email.unc.edu, or Allie Davis at 919-403-6950 or allied@childcareservices.org.
Pitt County
Project HEART: Members will educate students at the Boys and Girls Club in Greenville about the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the importance of his legacy to our society from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 16. For more information, contact Kenneth Taylor at 252-328-4357 or taylork@ecu.edu.
Polk County
AmeriCorps Project Conserve: Volunteers will replace roof shingles, paint and repair fences, and make other improvements to the Stony Knoll Community Center in Mill Spring from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 16. For more information, contact Laura Brookshire at 828-553-3832 or laura@polkcountyfarms.org
Wake County
AmeriCorps JobLink: Members will collect, sort, and distribute food at the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 16. Members will also help prepare and serve food at the South Wilmington Center from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, contact Ashley Reams at 919-655-7965 ashley.reams@wakegov.com.
The N.C. Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service, a federally and state-funded agency housed in the Governor’s Office, administers funding to 12 N.C. AmeriCorps programs for the 2011-2012 program year. AmeriCorps is a national service initiative designed to increase volunteering and civic engagement in America. Since 1994, more than 12,153 individuals have participated in N.C. AmeriCorps programs. Members tutor and mentor school-aged youth, improve the quality of care for preschool children and address the need for energy efficient housing for low-income families. For more information on the N.C. AmeriCorps programs, visit the Commission’s Web site at www.VolunteerNC.org or call 1-800-820-4483 or 1-877-877-1765 (TTY).