Michiganders make amazing impact with MLK Day service

A single day of service can make a huge difference.

Thousands of Michigan residents volunteered on the 2017 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service and made a significant impact in communities across the state.

The Michigan Community Service Commission, along with the Michigan Nonprofit Association, supported 22 volunteer projects across Michigan that addressed hunger and homelessness, education, and other critical community needs. The projects engaged nearly 3,000 volunteers in more than 5,000 volunteer hours, benefitting more than 50,000 Michigan residents.

“It’s amazing to see the transformation,” Lt. Gov. Brian Calley told a roomful of 200 volunteers serving in Detroit. “A couple hundred people can come together and make a difference in a short period of time.”

Calley served with the AmeriCorps Urban Safety Program cleaning up a Detroit neighborhood and boarding up vacant homes. Alongside him were AmeriCorps members and hundreds of volunteers, including 35 students from Detroit’s Cass Technical High School. Teacher Lauralyn Taylor has been bringing the students out to service projects for six years.

“The weather is always shaky and it’s always cold, but I tell them, ‘I promise when you get there that you’ll love it,’ and they always do,” Taylor said. “They learn how to enjoy giving back.”

One of those students, Cherylyn Wade, laughed with her friends despite the cold weather and hard work.

“It’s really amazing to give back to the community. Everything is messy, so it feels nice to clean up the area,” she said.

Hundreds of volunteers also served in Flint, aiming to help children and the homeless population. The United Way of Genesee County participated in several projects, including approximately 70 volunteers helping clean and organize at the Whaley Children’s Center.

“We’re so thankful these volunteers can donate time to make Whaley kids’ lives better,” said Sam Roth, director of marketing for Whaley Children’s Center.

About 70 volunteers also served at Baker College in Flint, helping put together kits for the homeless population.

“We are proud to support volunteer projects for National Days of Service,” said Michigan Community Service Commission Executive Director Ginna Holmes. “What Michiganders accomplished on Martin Luther King Jr. Day is truly inspiring.”

Other Michigan MLK Day highlights

• Nearly 100 volunteers with Eastern Michigan University served nearly 300 hours with 11 organizations including Habitat for Humanity, EMU Children's Institute, Food Gatherers, and more.
• Volunteers with the American Red Cross assembled 120 comfort kits and provided information about winter preparedness to the homeless population.
• The Boys and Girls Club Youth Volunteer Corps of Alpena constructed a small pantry to provide food for those in need.
• Volunteers with the Greater Lansing Food Bank prepared more than 700 "Garden to Go" bags, which will be sent to area food pantries.
• The Barry County United Way hosted a personal care product drive and volunteers assembled 220 personal care packages for those in need in Barry County.
• Volunteers with the Red Cross Club at the University of Michigan assembled over 200 comfort kits for veterans at the Ann Arbor VA Hospital and Detroit VA Hospital.
• In Muskegon, volunteers with Pioneer Resources assembled and distributed 100 survival bags to the hungry and homeless.
• Washtenaw My Brother’s Keeper hosted a suit and tie drive at Eastern Michigan University and volunteers collected more than 300 items for the professional development of young men.
• In Houghton Lake, youth volunteers with Mid-Michigan Big Brothers Big Sisters made 30 placemats for local seniors.
• More than 100 volunteers with Northern Michigan University created 98 Valentine’s Day cards to be delivered to veterans at the Jacobetti Veteran’s Home, knitted items to be given out at the local warming center,  delivered 28 flower bouquets were to the hospital and local nursing home, made 123 dog toys be given to the local no-kill animal shelter and more.
• In Lansing, 50 volunteers with the Allen Neighborhood Center participated in several service projects including building six garden boxes to provide to residents.
• Madonna University hosted 25 girls from Alternatives for Girls who learned more about higher education by attending a demonstration of the nursing lab and worked with two faculty members in the Chemistry and Biology labs.
• Students from Susick Elementary in Troy collected food and monetary donations to provide 438 meals for families in need and served at Gleaners Food Bank, helping to prepare the food for distribution.