MLK Day of Service

10,000 and counting…
HOPE worldwide volunteers around the country will be enjoying a day on, not a day off

Wayne, PA ‐ “Life’s most persistent question,” Dr. King once asked, “is what are you doing for others?" This Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend, more than 10,000 HOPE worldwide volunteers are teaming up with the American Red Cross, along with various other corporations and community partners throughout the United States, to take a day on, not a day off. Volunteers have already pledged to take a day of service and meet needs of community members through 95 sites planning projects across the country. HOPE worldwide anticipates through the various service activities, more than 25,000 volunteer hours will be served by volunteers, reaching over 120,000 people through this one holiday.

Volunteers are planning a number of projects, including community clean‐ups, mural paintings, school and community center renovations, programs for children in foster care, home rehabbing for elderly men and women, and many more. One of the featured service programs for the third year in a row is the Fire Preparedness Reach Out program with the American Red Cross. More than 40 Chapters of HOPE worldwide will be canvassing in low income, fire vulnerable areas alongside Red Cross volunteers, engaging in conversations about fire safety and emergency planning, as well as installing new smoke detectors for families who need them. Service projects will begin this upcoming weekend in honor of the January 18 holiday and will continue for some Chapters through the weekend following MLK Day. Since 1994, when Congress passed the King Holiday and Service Act, changes have been made in cities through the simple act of taking a day to volunteer, and HOPE worldwide is stepping up to be a part of this great day once again.

To learn more about what HOPE worldwide is doing this MLK Day of Service, visit www.hopeww.org. For more information about the national day of service, please visit www.mlkday.gov. HOPE worldwide is encouraging every Chapter to take advantage of the “Give a Day. Get a Disney Day.” program this MLK Day. This program provides opportunities for all of our volunteers to receive a free pass to one Disney Park during 2010 for giving a day of service. If you have questions about HOPE worldwide’s involvement with the “Give a Day. Get a Disney Day.” program, please contact Jaclyn_Morris@hopeww.org.