MLK DAY 2022: SERVING KENT COUNTY
A day on, not a day off.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was an influential voice in the American civil rights movement. He dedicated his adult life to addressing civil rights and racial issues through the means of non-violence, eventually earning him much respect throughout the world. His work and sacrifices were so profound that he became the youngest person to ever receive the Nobel Peace Prize in December 1964. Some of Dr. King’s most famous accomplishments include founding the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, leading the Montgomery bus boycott, and delivering his famous “I Have a Dream” speech to 250,000 people during the march on Washington.
Tragically, the civil rights leader was assassinated on April 4, 1968, on a balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. In 1983, 15 years after his death, Congress designated Martin Luther King Jr. Day as the third Monday in January. In 1994, Congress passed the King Holiday and Service Act, making MLK Day an official Day of Service. Making time to volunteer on this day is a great way to improve your community while also honoring the life and legacy of the civil rights leader.
This year, Heart of West Michigan United Way staff participated in several volunteer projects with local nonprofits on MLK Day as “a day on, not a day off.”
BETHANY CHRISTIAN SERVICES
Volunteering virtually, staff and their families created comfort kits for children in need of extra love and care. Bethany Christian Services will give these kits to Afghan refugee children who are new to Grand Rapids to welcome them to their new community during a difficult time in their lives.
NEW DESTINY PATHWAYS
New Destiny Pathways provides safe, affordable, and supportive housing for young women ages 17–21 who are transitioning out of the foster care system. United Way staff volunteered to help make the space feel even more like home by painting and making light repairs to the transitional housing.
RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE OF WESTERN MICHIGAN
A group from United Way cooked and prepared meals for families with critically ill or injured children staying at the Ronald McDonald House. Alongside free housing and transportation, these meals help cut down costs of expensive hospital or takeout meals and allows families to focus on their child’s health.
Whether you joined us in this yearly tradition or would like to serve your community this year, we hope Dr. King’s legacy inspires you to start volunteering year-round. Create your volunteer profile on our Get Connected website to find an opportunity that fits your passion, skills, and schedule. You can also track your hours, build a volunteer team, and follow your favorite agencies to receive updates on new opportunities.