Call to Service

President-Elect Obama is calling for a national day of service on Monday, January 19th. It's no coincidence that it happens to be on the holiday designated to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a day already linked to community action.

“If you want to be important—wonderful. If you want to be recognized—wonderful. If you want to be great—wonderful. But, recognize that he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. That's a new definition of greatness.”

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Ebenezer Baptist Church, Atlanta, Georgia, on 4 February 1968.

In 1994, Congress designated the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday a national day of community service further commemorating a man who lived his life in service to others. As a tribute to that legacy and to the very real needs of our nation, the President-elect and Vice President-elect are calling on citizens and volunteers across the country to plan, organize and stage non-partisan, volunteer community service events in their neighborhoods from Saturday, January 17th through Monday, January 19th, 2009 to celebrate the life and lessons of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

While this call begins with service on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, President-elect Obama is asking for more than just a single day of service. He is calling on all Americans to make a continued commitment to service. This is an excellent way for volunteers to engage their community and collaborate with local organizations to create service opportunities.

And here is a video appeal from the website www.usaservice.org:



To find an opportunity near you, visit www.usaservice.org or simply click here. The Volunteer Center staff will continue to encourage local agencies to register their events through this newly created site. We'll be sure to update our 1-800-Volunteer.org listings, as well.

Even if there is not a lot to do locally, please remember that this call to service is not a one-time request. Rather, it's a challenge to make an ongoing commitment to volunteerism. Each and every one of us has something to give back to the community, whether it's a special skill or talent or simply offering to help with an existing opporunity to serve.

Please feel free to give us a call, send an e-mail or visit the website if you would like to learn more about volunteering in Howard County, MD. We'd also like to hear your ideas for projects you'd like to see, and would be happy to work with you in planning and implementing service initiatives throughout the year. Thanks!

Register with the Volunteer Center Serving Howard County today to find volunteer opportunities related to your skills and interests!