“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is,
‘What are you doing for others?’ ”
— Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Honor the life and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by serving our community on MLK Day—and throughout the week surrounding the holiday. The Volunteer Center's annual MLK Day of Service event has gone virtual and expanded to a week this year, with a variety of home-based and safely distanced service opportunities available right on this page, January 16-24, 2021. Projects range from activities like writing letters to isolated seniors to creating toys for service dogs. Choose to participate in one or many! They all help others in our community. (MCPS students can earn SSL hours for most service projects except donations. Details outlined within each opportunity.)
Click on the projects below that interest you to view more details and sign up. Note that some projects are expected to fill up quickly and require pre-registration (as indicated).
View all opportunities related to MLK Day of Service 2021. This link includes the activities below as well as service projects organized by the Volunteer Center's partner sites and other local agencies.
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Contribute to a Cause
The need for donations of items and funds is at an all-time high. Help fill these needs virtually by purchasing specific goods and gift cards of any amount from these groups' wish lists. Some are Amazon lists that allow you to purchase items from home and have them sent directly to the organization. SSL hours are not available for donations.
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Send Encouraging Words
Brighten someone’s day with an uplifting message! Write a letter to one of the groups or people below.
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Craft From Home
Create items to help others from the comfort of your own home. Most of these projects can be completed using common household items. Others, marked as “PRE-REGISTER” (or "FILLED" if closed), require us to mail supplies to you. To participate in the pre-registered projects, you must sign up no later than Jan. 8 (but spaces may fill before then).
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Preemie Hats
(FILLED)
Learn as a Service
Montgomery County Public School students are welcome and encouraged to complete any of the above activities and can earn SSL hours for service projects (but not donations). This year, we’ve also created special learning activities to bring the service learning lessons full circle! While anyone may participate in the activities below and learn more about Dr. King, only MCPS students can access the projects’ assessment forms to receive SSL credit.
More Ways to Honor Dr. King
Sharing Smiles
This virtual youth concert coordinated by Empowering the Ages and aimed at senior audiences will honor Dr. King on Sunday, Jan. 17, 2 pm. Register.
Real Talk in a Virtual World
The Montgomery County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority holds its annual MLK Day of Service program on Zoom, Monday, Jan. 18, 8 am-1:30 pm. Register and get more details.
In His and Their Own Words
Montgomery County's annual performing arts tribute to Dr. King, coordinated by the Office of Human Rights, will be live streamed on Monday, Jan. 18, 5 pm. Register and get the live stream links.
Presidential Inaugural Committee's Day of Service Information
Commit to serving in 2021 and learn about MLK Day opportunities throughout the country. More info.
Thank You!
Thank you to the thousands of volunteers who have made Montgomery County's MLK Day of Service a huge success every year for the past two decades. We look forward to continuing the tradition, even if it looks a little different this year.
A huge thank you to our partner sites for continuing to provide volunteer opportunities for our county!
- Seneca Creek Community Church
- City of Rockville
- Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Maryland Chapter
- Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Eta Pi Zeta Chapter
This event is made possible by a generous grant from AmeriCorps.
