MLK DAY 2023

Michiganders Volunteer for MLK Day

Throughout the month of January, the Michigan Community Service Commission has supported 28 volunteer projects in honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. These projects were held statewide and addressed community needs.

The Michigan Community Service Commission awarded over $11,000 in grants to help support over 1,500 volunteers addressing needs relating to food insecurity, homelessness, and projects supporting youth, seniors and the environment.

“Michiganders always do a great job of supporting others and their communities,” said Executive Director of the Michigan Community Service Commission, Ginna Holmes. “We were proud to support organizations that engaged volunteers to do service in honor of Dr. King.”

The AmeriCorps Urban Safety (AMUS) Program is among the organizations that held a service project for MLK Day. Volunteers hosted a free food distribution, and different health and wellness sessions. A total of 11,033 pounds food from Gleaners and Forgotten Harvest Food was provided, and a dental hygienist mobile van served residents with screenings and cleanings.

“Being able to assist families that have a language barrier, and who were only interested in the free food distribution learned about all the other resources that were available and took advantage of learning and attended self-care classes, walked out of there with so much more,” said Ramona Washington, Program Director of AMUS.

Allen Neighborhood Center in Lansing executed several environmental projects. Their diverse group of volunteers ranged from ages 3-73 and came from at least 11 different groups or organizations.

Volunteers helped deliver an informational newsletter and assisted with the Hunter Park Garden House (HPGH) staff in moving a large shed to improve growing space. HPGH also collaborated with Indigenous community garden and cultural center, Giitigan, to offer the Anishinaabemowin - a threatened indigenous language - names of the plants featured in their community garden. 100 feet of dilapidated fencing was disassembled, and 30 fence rails were painted.

My Sister’s Keeper (MSK) in Highland Park, partnered with My Brother’s Keeper and over 800 youth to launch a mentoring and life skills app. The I AM A KEEPER MOBILE APP was made in response to the overwhelming issues prevalent among youth. The app allows users to identify and track their personal goals along with a check-in feature to help connect them with a mentor, get help with homework or anything else.

“There has been amazing feedback and survey results indicating that the app is creating impact among urban youth who often lack support. Features like the journal and the check-in temperature check have been said to be most useful and helpful,” said Tanesha Windom, President and CEO of MSK.

Some more highlights from MLK Day Service Projects include:

Barry County United Way & Volunteer Center – 50 volunteers hosted a “Spice it Up” collection drive to address a growing need among community members. Spice packets were added to the weekly fresh food distribution along with recipes. 200 residents were helped.

Kids Coalition Against Hunger – 310 volunteers packaged 58,000 meals for St. Clair, Macomb and Wayne Counties. Volunteers ages ranged from 4 to 84 years old. 9,666 people received meals because of the project.
Mott Community College – Held a book drive from Jan. 24-27 to promote the tradition of storytelling and literacy in their community. A “Walk for Wellness” 3K will also take place on campus in February apart of their Black History Month celebration.
Boys and Girls Club of Alpena – 91 youth made cards, bookmarks and baked cookies for all educators within Alpena Public School District. 472 received gifts from this project.
Fleece and Thank You – In Farmington Hills, 85 volunteers finished ensuring that blankets were up to hospital safety protocols and germ free. After three days, over 100 blankets were ready to be sent to kids around the state.
Peace Tree Parks – Partnered with Redford University Prep High School Earth Science class for their annual seed germination day. 100 students germinated over 1,000 seeds which will planted at community gardens through out Detroit. Students learned germination and got to plant their own seeds at home.

Partners AmeriCorps and Youth Service America helped provide funding for these service projects.

Food Insecurity, Personal Needs Projects

Location	Organization	Date	Project description	Contact
Bay City	United Way of Bay County	Jan. 15 and 26	Youth volunteers will assemble hygiene and warming kits for those experiencing homelessness.	MaryBeth Rodriguez maryb@unitedwaybaycounty.org
Detroit	Developing K.I.D.S.	Jan.16	Youth will create kits of hygiene products, hats, and gloves for those experiencing homelessness	Kimberly Johnson kjohnson@developingkids.org
Detroit	Lambda Pi Omega Chapter	Jan.16	Volunteers will pack kits with 500 hats, gloves, socks and other warming items for those experiencing homelessness and poverty.	Deanne Surles deannes20pearls@gmail.com
Detroit	The Lawn Academy	Jan. 14-16	Volunteers will pack gloves, socks and other warming items for those experiencing homelessness.	Virdell King VirdellKing@LawnAcademy.com
Hastings	Barry County United Way & Volunteer Center	Collection: Jan. 2-17. Event: Jan.18, from 8 a.m.-11a.m.	Volunteers will pack fresh food for nearly 200 families and will feature recipes to promote healthy eating using spices. Spices can be donated by community members as well as assist with packing.	Morgan Johnson morgan@bcunitedway.org
Highland Park	My Sister's Keeper	Jan.16	My Sister's Keeper youth volunteers will launch a mentoring and life skills mobile app. On 1/16/22, volunteers will teach youth about the many features and services the app provides.	Tanesha Windom mskmentoring@gmail.com
Lansing	Ingham County Health Department	Jan. 12	Our MLK Day staff will participate in trainings and a service project to improve oral health care for clients of Loaves and Fishes organization.	Caitlin Wyneken cwyneken@ingham.org
Lansing	Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Delta Tau Omega Lansing Chapter	Jan. 16	Adult and Youth Volunteers will host a care package event that includes hats, gloves, socks, and food. Packages will be distributed to homeless shelter providers in Lansing.	Marilyn Skinner Britt marilyn.britt@att.net
White Lake	St. Patrick Church	Feb.4 at 10 a.m	Packing near 10,000 meals for children experiencing hunger around the world.	Julie Cavanaugh jcavanaugh@stpwl.org
Wixom	Kids Coalition Against Hunger	Jan. 14	Packing food for those needed food access.	Lori Stillwell lori2547@yahoo.com
Detroit	Wayne State- AmeriCorps Urban Safety Program	Jan.16	Volunteers will participate in activities that help residents build healthy eating habits and learn how to use foods in different and interesting ways.	Ramona Washington as0293@wayne.edu

Projects providing support for at vulnerable children and adults

Location	Organization	Date	Project description	Contact
Adrian	Michener Elementary	Late January	Creating a sensory room for students who have experience severe trauma or have high emotional needs.	Lora Wallich lwallich@adrian.k12.mi.us
Alpena	Boys and Girls Club of Alpena	Jan. 9-13 delivered on Jan. 17	Youth Volunteers will create a teacher recognition gifts and bake items for educators.	Catherine Knoch bgcalpena@gmail.com
Southfield	Pi Gamma Zeta of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated	Jan. 20	Resume writing and career coaching for women impacted by domestic violence and homelessness.	Elizabeth Connors econnorz.5.pearl@gmail.com
Big Rapids	Crossroads Charter Academy	Jan. 16	Youth with create 40 art supply boxes for children in foster care to encourage artistic expression.	Doni Schumacker schumackerd@ccabr.org
Ionia and Montcalm Counties	United Way - Montcalm Ionia	Between Jan.12-19	Youth Volunteers will make lap robes for seniors living in residential centers.	Audrey Fleming afleming@maisd.com
Grand Rapids	Heart of West Michigan United Way	Jan.16	Youth Volunteers will create 260 literacy kits to help improve independent childhood reading by grade 3.	Fatima Bawah fbawah@hwmuw.org
Lansing	Women's Center of Greater Lansing	Jan. 16	Volunteers will renovate, clean and paint the center to provide a quality environment for clients to receive free counseling services.	Rebecca Kasen rebecca@womenscenterofgreaterlansing.org
Hancock	Community Alliance for Progressive	Jan. 14-15	Volunteers will support at home seniors with snow shoveling.	Ann Sanchez anna@keweenawcape.com
Detroit	Veterans Lives Matter	Jan.16	At All Things Women Inc., Veterans will renovate three sleeping rooms and organize the free store called Bountiful Blessings that serves 75-100 families weekly.	Quin Jones veteranslivesmatter2@gmail.com
Flint	Mott Community College, Flint and Genesee Literacy Network	Jan. -various dates	Volunteers will participate in a variety of literacy activities to help improve literacy and reading rates.	Katherine Landon katherine.landon@mcc.edu
Farmington Hills	Fleece & Thank You	Jan. 14, 16 and 18	Create Fleece blankets for children in Michigan hospitals	Julie Strother julie@fleeceandthankyou.org
Detroit	T. ROSE Foundation	Jan. 14	Youth Volunteers will participate in an MLK learning event and work with writing coaches to express in writing how they can individually promote and achieve MLK’s Dream.	Theresa Randleman theresa@t-rose.com

Environmental Projects

Monroe	Monroe Public Schools, Knabusch Math & Science Center	Jan 9-13	The school will be focusing on environmental stewardship on their 50-acre land. High School Students will start native plants and will create activities for younger students.	Nicole Shaughnessy nicole.shaughnessy@monroeisd.us
Redford	Peace Tree Parks	Jan.	Volunteers will participate in projects around STEM and agriculture in the organization’s year-round garden dome. This project will create food resources.	Eric Andrews Info@PeaceTreeParks.org
Lansing	Allen Neighborhood Center	Jan. 16	Volunteers will work on outdoor projects such as moving two sheds, and fixing fencing to improve the edible park in the Hunter Park area.	Egypt Krohn egyptk@allenneighborhoodcenter.org
East Lansing	City of East Lansing Environmental Stewardship Program	Jan. 16	Volunteers will remove Common reed (Phragmites austrailis) which is an invasive plant species in Michigan that is harmful to the wetland areas of Harrison Meadows Park.	Willow Krupin wkrupin@cityofeastlansing.com
Freemont	TrueNorth Community Services	Jan. 12	Students will create animal toys as well as feeders. Students will participate in learning sessions on pet care and wildlife safety.	Katelyn Olsen kolsen@truenorthservices.org

Popular on michigan.gov

How Do I...

MLK DAY 2023