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#SpotlightOnCLT: Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service

“Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.” -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 1968.

This year marks the 27th anniversary of a day that began in 1986 as a commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr's birthday, but has since turned into a day dedicated to empowering and encouraging Americans to participate in community service.  In 1994, Congress passed the King Holiday and Service Act, a federal holiday observed as a day of service.  A "day on," they say, not a "day off."  Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service on January 17th, 2022, is one of the top two days in a year to volunteer, make an impact, and get involved.

SHARE Charlotte has curated a list of nonprofits who offer opportunities for you to get involved and to serve during this month of celebration and rememberance.  It is our mission to offer you a one-stop spot to learn and connect to causes that matter to you.  Our list below highlights specific ways you can help including supporting teachers and students, mentoring, meal prep, and landscaping cleanup.

SHARE Charlotte MLK Day of Service  - Event and Volunteer Opportunities

Classroom Central 

2022 marks Classroom Central’s 20th anniversary, to help us celebrate this major milestone, we invite you to join us in 20 days of service in honor of our 20 years! 

Download the clickable calendar to learn more about how to participate in each activity. Supporting Classroom Central's 20 Days of Service will help us prepare to re-open our Free Store in February, where eligible teachers can go on shopping sprees for free school supplies!

Contact: Darden Blow,  darden@classroomcentral.org

The Free Indeed Project of Charlotte

Register to serve on a committee or to become a client mentor at the upcoming Volunteer Orientation and Mentor Training. Volunteers that sign up will help proctor classes, facilitate workshops, teach Bible studies, etc.

Contact: Janet Butts,  janet@thefreeindeedproject.org

Samaritan House, NC

Guests spend time discussing MLK impact and in our community. Volunteer service includes opportunities of  yard work & landscaping, meal prep & serve (lunch or dinner) to our guests to help maintain the facility. 

Contact: Gregg Chapman, greggchapman1@gmail.com

Supportive Housing Communities

SHC has two properties in Charlotte that serve individuals who were formerly homeless. Volunteers will help beautify both properties by painting at McCreesh Place and landscaping at St. John's Place during MLK Day of Service.

Contact: Jessica Williams,  jessica@aplacetoliveagain.org

Raise a Child of the Carolinas 

Drive & Drop Day of Service gives our community an opportunity to support another.  Community members drive by and drop off snack donations that will be used to make gift baskets for residents and families at The Ronald McDonald House. 

Contact: Shaguana Hunt, s.hunt@raiseachildcarolinas.org

Bright Blessings

MLK Jr. Day - Open Volunteer Session is a serve and support event working on various projects. Volunteer session for around 25 people to participate in to help component building to get ready to send out to homeless and impoverished children.

Contact: Tisha Henderson Adams tisha@brightblessingsusa.org

United Way

UWCC's 2022 MLK Call to Service (www.uwccequitychallenge.org/mlk) is a weeklong virtual event that combines learning, service and inspiration via daily emails to participants. The event is free and open to all, kicking off on Monday, Jan. 17, and concluding Friday, Jan. 21.

The virtual volunteer opportunities offered as part of UWCC's 2022 MLK Call to Service include various kit-packing and donation drives that benefit United Way agencies. These activities are described in the daily emails sent to participants and can be performed individually or with family or co-workers. They are available throughout the week, starting on Jan. 17. Participating in the 2022 MLK Call to Service will not only increase your knowledge of the nonprofit organizations supported by United Way, it will also enable you to support some of these organizations by providing items that they require to accomplish their work - everything from snack packs and children's books to warm clothing and face masks. 

Contact: Bob Young,  byoung@uwcentralcarolinas.org

Habitat for Humanity of the Charlotte Region

Habitat ReStore - Book Sorting, will help Habitat sort book donations to stock our bookstore to help us fundraise for building affordable homes.

Contact: Courtney Dubulis, cdubulis@habitatcltregion.org

GenerationNation 

My Wish or Idea for my community. Students identify and help to solve school and community issues through service with area nonprofits or through self created projects.

Contact: Amy Farrell, info@generationnation.org

Learning Help Centers of Charlotte

Out of School - Kids Fun Day 

Reading with students, board games, yoga, just a fun day to make a new friend. Put a smile on the faces of our cool kids who need a pause after a tough school semester 

Contact: BrentMorris, brent@lhcclt.org

Share With Us!

We have so much great news to share from our nonprofit partners about their amazing work. But, we'd love to hear from you. Let us know if you have stories you'd like to tell and we'll make you a guest blogger!!