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Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Posted about 4 weeks ago by Jennifer Deuell
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is celebrated each year on the third Monday of January. It is meant to honor the life and achievements of the great civil rights leader, Dr. King. The day was officially made a national holiday in 1983 by President Ronald Reagan. Later, former Pennsylvania U.S. Senator Harris Wofford and Atlanta Congressman John Lewis advocated for it to be named “Martin Luther King, Jr., National Day of Service” and it was made so when President Bill Clinton in signed it into law in 1994. Since then, Martin Luther King, Jr., National Day of Service is coordinated by AmeriCorps and millions of people nationwide take part by volunteering in their communities.

This year marks the 30th year of MLK National Day of Service and in an effort to encourage more of our Richmond neighbors to participate, I put together a list of local volunteer opportunities.

Parks and Recreation: The Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities is home to more than 170 parks, open spaces, athletic fields, playgrounds and tot lots. The department maintains 21 community centers while providing a full spectrum of recreational services and leisure programs for all of Richmond’s citizens. Opportunities to volunteer with Parks and Rec are almost unlimited. Help out at a one-day special event or assist on an ongoing basis. If you are interested in serving as a volunteer, email AskParkRec

James River Association: JRA monitors the river, responds to problems, seeks policy changes, and implements on-the-ground projects to restore the river’s health. It also helps communities benefit from the river by increasing river access, supporting river-related events, and implementing volunteer projects. JRA has quite a few volunteer opportunities including patrolling the river, monitoring its water quality, planting trees and maintaining buffer projects, installing living shorelines, and more! You can even get green and help our libraries by volunteering with the Greening Richmond Public Libraries Program

Richmond Animal Care and Control: RACC is the only open-admission public animal shelter in the City of Richmond. They provide humane care for more than 3,000 stray, sick, injured, and relinquished pets per year. If you’re an animal lover, consider volunteering with RACC. You can volunteer on site by cuddling cats and walking dogs. Or, you can foster an animal in your own home.

Feed More: Feed More collects, prepares and distributes food to bring hunger relief to neighbors in need throughout Central Virginia. They are dedicated to providing nourishment and hope to our neighbors facing hunger. Volunteers help prepare meals in their Bayard Community Kitchen or deliver meals through their Meals on Wheels program.

Senior Connections: Senior Connections provides information, advocacy, and direct services to seniors and their families. Their mission is “Empowering seniors to live with dignity and choice.” Senior Connections is looking for volunteers who are enthusiastic, compassionate, and motivated to work on both short- and long-term projects. They provide a variety of volunteer opportunities from office administration to working directly with seniors.

The READ Center: The READ Center is a community-based nonprofit organization helping adults improve their lives through adult literacy. It provides classroom instruction, one-to-one tutoring, and community programs to adults who want to improve their reading, writing, basic math and digital skills. You can volunteer and become an Adult Literacy Teacher, working one-on-one with an adult on their reading, writing, spelling, basic math and digital skills. Tutors are required to go through a specialized training so be sure to check their website for upcoming training dates.

SOAR365: SOAR365 provides a wide range of programs to provide support for the daily, real-world challenges of living with a disability. It serves over 1,500 individuals and families each year. If you would like to help individuals with disabilities become an active part of their community, consider volunteering with SOAR. You can volunteer once by providing event support or participating in beautification projects. Or, provide program or administrative support in an ongoing capacity.

Sacred Heart Center: Sacred Heart Center offers comprehensive education and support services for Latino families and individuals by providing children’s programs, transportation, language access, long-term support, and cultural affirmation. They work to overcome barriers that prevent individuals and families from connecting their talents and skills to opportunities and resources. You don’t have to speak Spanish to volunteer, all are welcome!

Side by Side: Side by Side is an organization dedicated to creating supportive communities where Virginia’s LGBTQ+ youth can define themselves, belong, and flourish. They provide programs and services for LGBTQ+ youth ages 11-20 based in Richmond, as well as LGBTQ+ young adults 18-25 experiencing homelessness or housing instability. Side by Side accepts both youth and adult volunteers both within the center itself and for special events.

Richmond Public Library: Of course I have to plug our very own Library! We have several ways you can help! Volunteers may assist on location with shelving books, collection maintenance, program support, and special projects. Volunteers can also take part in our RVA Reads program by reading to preschoolers in local Richmond Public Schools and daycares. Finally, our Friends of the Richmond Public Library accepts volunteers to help with their semi-annual Book Sale.

As you can see, there are so many places where you can spend your time helping our Richmond community. Can’t find just the right fit on this list? Check out RIC Today’s list of 50+ Volunteering Opportunities in Richmond.

Jennifer Deuell

Jenn Deuell is the Library/Community Services Manager of Outreach & Engagement at Richmond Public Library. She is a native of Fredericksburg, VA but has lived in Richmond for long enough that she now considers it home. She (of course) loves reading and has found joy in audiobooks since becoming the parent of two young children. Her other hobbies include traveling and spending time with family, including her rescued pit bull.

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