Volunteers to roll up their sleeves on MLK Jr. Day of Service
Martin Luther King Jr., who dedicated his life to fighting for civil and human rights, will be remembered once again this year during the annual commemoration of his Jan. 15 birthday. The civil rights leader/author/Nobel Prize winner, who was assassinated on April 4, 1968, would have turned 90 this year.
While there will be plenty of speeches and words of praise recalling his many accomplishments, many people will be taking a more proactive approach to the holiday.
Across DeKalb County the weekend of Jan. 19, volunteers will be bringing their enthusiasm and helping hands to an array of projects. The work includes carpentry, painting, drywall installation, gardening, landscaping, etc.
Here’s a roundup of some of those projects and other activities and there still may be time to sign up, pitch in and participate:
Brookhaven
The city of Brookhaven will host its 4th Annual Martin Luther King Day Dinner and Program at 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 21. Featured speaker will be U.S. army Brigadier General Richard Dix. The dinner takes place in Lynwood Park’s Lynwood Community Center, 3360 Osborne Road in Brookhaven. The park was once the site of segrated Lynwood schools whose students integrated the DeKalb school system in 1968. Dix is a former resident of Lynwood. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the center or by calling (404) 637-0542.
Decatur
DeKalb County government will host its 35th Annual Martin Luther King Celebration at 11:30 a.m. on Jan. 18. A speaker for the address titled “King’s Vision: Humanity tied in a Single Garment of Destiny” has not been identified. The event takes place at the Maloof Auditorium, 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur.
Decatur
MLK Day of Service started to provide house maintenance and repair free of charge to Decatur senior homeowners in 2003, 100 volunteers signed up the first year to do work on eight houses. This year an estimated 1,100 volunteers will toil during three days—Jan. 19-20—doing repairs and yard work on homes of elderly residents in Oakhurst. A celebratory cookout takes place at 5 p.m. on Jan 21 at the Solarium on Hill Street in Decatur. The financial impact of the project is $226,000 annually, according to officials. To volunteer for this project, go to mlkserviceproject.com.
Dunwoody
Packing 2,000 care packages for the homeless and underprivileged in metro Atlanta is the focus of this MLK Jr. Day of Service effort sponsored by The Packaged Good and Homeless at Heart. From 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 21 volunteers will be at the Marcus Jewish Community Center Atlanta, 5342 Tilly Mill Road in Dunwoody packing the items. For more information, go to thepackaged good.org. To sign up, go to http://BIT.LY/MLKDAY2019PG.
Decatur
The 17th Annual Martin Luther King Day Parade is set to step off at noon from Green Pastures Christian Church, 5455 Flat Shoals Parkway in Decatur. The parade is put on annually by the NAACP DeKalb County Branch.
Dunwoody
Brook Run Park is the site for Dunwoody’s MLK Jr. Day of Service from 9 a.m. to noon on Jan. 21. Opportunities include planting trees, cleaning a park, spending time with senior citizens. Volunteers are to meet at the park’s pavilion at 8:30 a.m. for registration, coffee, donuts, music and giveaways. Brook Run Park is located 4770 N. Peachtree Road in Dunwoody.
Decatur
The Gué Pardue Hudson Center for Leadership at Agnes Scott College is seeking to develop student leaders at its MLK Day of Leadership and Service 2019. The theme of the event is “Compassionate Action” and the daylong program from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Jan. 21 involves a change agent panel and round table discussion in the morning. Following lunch participate will be transported to service sites in the afternoon. For tickets go to agnesscott.givepulse.com or visit the center’s Facebook page.
Dunwoody
Nature lovers who want to enjoy the outdoors on the MLK Jr. Day of Service can volunteer at Dunwoody Nature Center’s event honoring the civil rights leader. On Jan. 21 from 9 a.m. to noon, volunteers will be involved in cleanup activities at the park, located at 5343 Roberts Drive, Dunwoody. For more information, go to dunwoodynature.org and search for the event.
