Michiganders encouraged to volunteer for MLK Day
The Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC), the state’s lead agency on volunteerism, rolled out nearly $10,000 to support Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service projects and is encouraging more Michiganders to serve their community by volunteering on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jan. 19, and throughout the month.
“Serving within your community carries on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy,” said Ginna Holmes, Executive Director of the Michigan Community Service Commission. “We encourage Michiganders to take part in an opportunity to help those in need. We are proud to support organizations across the state to engage volunteers in helping communities.”
To honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., the MCSC is supporting 20 volunteer projects across the state that will engage more than 4,000 volunteers in nearly 11,000 service hours. Projects will address community needs, such as food insecurity, homelessness, environmental stewardship and supporting youth.
To support these efforts, the MCSC with financial support from Youth Service America awarded $9,600 in grants ranging from $100 to $1,000.
Volunteers with Allen Neighborhood Center will be distributing the organization’s newsletter and preparing boxes for its vegetable program to fight against food insecurity in Ingham County.
“By taking a day off to serve our community, we honor his legacy the best way we know how,” said Ethan Schmitt of Allen Neighborhood Center.
Youth mentoring organizations My Sister’s Keeper and My Brother’s Keeper are committed to being environmental advocates in the Highland Park community and will show this through their MLK Day service project.
“Guided by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s conviction that 'injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,’ these young leaders recognize that the fight for civil rights must include the right to a clean and safe environment,” said project organizer Tanesha Windom.
“By providing residents with practical knowledge and essential tools—such as a youth-designed environmental health handbook and donated air purifiers to combat local pollution—they are empowering residents to claim their fundamental right to a healthy life.”
The Theta Zeta Lambda chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity in Ann Arbor will show young men college and career pathways through its Success Seminar, something Leland Walker says will help remove barriers for young men and foster future growth.
“Our service project honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s mission by advancing his vision of education, opportunity, and empowerment as essential tools for social justice,” Walker said.
Something all of these projects have in common is that they wouldn’t be possible without volunteers and community support.
“Volunteers are the foundation of our service efforts. Their time, talent, and dedication turn vision into reality,” Walker said.
“Allen Neighborhood Center simply would not exist without its dedicated, skilled, and relentless volunteer base,” Schmitt said. “Volunteers are our community leaders: the front-line people who make the health and connectivity of the neighborhood a personal commitment.”
Many projects need volunteers. Contact the project organizer for more details.
Projects addressing Food Insecurity and Personal Needs
|
Location and Date |
Organization and description |
Contact person and email |
|
Gratiot County, Jan.19 |
Alma College students will assemble food kits. |
Not able to accept additional volunteers |
|
Wayne County Monday, Jan.19 |
Pen Enrichment Community Center volunteers will participate in a commemorative march from Romulus Middle School to Romulus High School as well as prepare warming kits for the unhoused community and female hygiene kits for those experiencing hardship in the Romulus High School Cafeteria. |
Arthur Willis penenrichment@gmail.com |
|
Wayne and Macomb Counties Jan.8, 12-14, 20-22 |
The Children's Center of Wayne, Inc. volunteers will build cabinets, sorting items, and distributing donations to support youth |
Katie Olex kolex@thechildrenscenter.com |
|
Muskegon, Newaygo, and Oceana Counties Jan. 5-29 |
United Way of the Lakeshore Inc. volunteers will distribute care kits for the unhoused and participate in the unhoused annual count. |
Dominique Bunker dominique@unitedwaylakeshore.org |
|
Oakland, Wayne, Macomb, and Livingston Jan.19 |
South Oakland Shelter Lighthouse is hosting a food event for the Pontiac Food Bank. |
Unable to accept additional volunteers |
|
Bay County Jan.5 -26 |
United Way of Bay County volunteers pack food for youth experiencing food insecurity. |
Unable to accept additional volunteers |
|
Barry County Jan.18 and21 |
Barry County United Way volunteers will pack food and create recipes for those experiencing food insecurity. |
Unable to accept additional volunteers |
|
Ingham County Jan.19 |
Allen Neighborhood Center will distribute its newsletter and prepare boxes for the vegetable program. |
Ethan Schmitt ethans@allenneighborhoodcenter.org |
|
Alpena County, Presque Isle County, Alcona County, and Montmorency County Jan.12, 13, 20, 21 |
Boys & Girls Club of Alpena youth volunteers will create cancer care kits. |
Catherine Knoch bgcalpena@gmail.com |
|
Wayne Jan.19 |
Vision Fair Foundation will provide for the hats for elementary school children. |
Unable to accept additional volunteers |
|
Wayne and Oakland Jan.17 - 19 |
All Things Women Inc. volunteers will prepare a housing unit for women and children as well as prepare a community room and work on donations area to support residents. |
Shaneice Terrell sterrell@allthingswomeninc.org |
|
Genesee County Jan.17 |
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. Zeta Beta Zeta Chapter will create disaster kits for residents |
Karen Utsey karenutseyzeta@yahoo.com |
|
Wayne County Jan.20 |
AmeriCorps Urban Safety Program will host a food distribution and safety event. |
JaCara Webb jwebb.amus@gmail.com |
|
Statewide, with a primary focus on Macomb, Oakland, Wayne, St. Clair, Lapeer, and Sanilac counties. Jan.19 |
Macomb Foster Closet volunteers will build/assemble shelves and carry out improvement projects. |
Unable to accept additional volunteers |
|
Wayne & Oakland County Jan.19 |
Embassy Community Development Corporation volunteers will create kits for the unhoused. |
Katonya Jones kjones@embassycovenant.org |
|
Genesee and Shiawassee Counties Jan 19 |
United Way of Genesee County will host a food packing event where 200,000 meals will be packed. |
Diane Woodruff dwoodruff@unitedwaygenesee.org |
Projects Focused on Environment and Neighborhoods
|
Lake, Mason, Muskegon, Newaygo, and Oceana counties.Jan.19 - 23 |
TrueNorth Community Services will host a native seed planting event for their sphagnum bog |
Charlie Forbes cforbes@truenorthservices.org |
|
Wayne County, Jan.5-19 |
My Sister’s Keeper volunteers will launch an environmental project to improve air quality and clean up blight. |
Tanesha Windom Twindom@mysisterskeeperhp.org |
Projects Focused on Mentoring
|
Washtenaw and Wayne Counties, Jan.10 |
Theta Zeta Lambda Chapter will host a leadership and mentoring event, |
Leland L. Walker lelandwalker13@gmail.com |
|
Wayne County, Jan.5, 12 and 19 |
City Year Detroit will create debate kits for local schools. |
Rebecca Gillespie rebecca.gillespie@cityyear.org |
