It's not too late to sign up to participate in a service activity to commemorate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Westchester County and The Volunteer Center of United Way encourage individuals and families in Westchester to pay tribute to Dr. King on the MLK Day of Service on Saturday, Jan. 18, by giving back and making an impact in our local communities. The Volunteer Center's fourth annual MLK Day of Service features some 30 service projects throughout Westchester, Rockland, Ulster and Orange counties.
"There are volunteer opportunities across the county that are suitable for children and adults of all ages," said County Executive Robert P. Astorino. "This is an excellent opportunity for residents to use the day as a time to reflect and give back to the community in honor of Dr. King, whose mission was to bring people from all walks of life together."
Among the many activities planned for the MLK Day of Service are the "I Have a Dream" craft projects to be created at the Carver Center in Port Chester, the Yonkers Public Library, and The Institutes of Applied Human Dynamics, Inc. in Tarrytown. Other service initiatives include canned food drives at HOPE Community Services in New Rochelle and the Mount Kisco Interfaith Food Pantry; restoring a warehouse in Kingston with the Ulster County Habitat for Humanity; and assisting with the Health & Fitness Fun Day at the YWCA of Yonkers. For those who would like to participate prior to Jan. 18, The Volunteer Center, located in Tarrytown, is collecting toiletries and canned food for care kits created for those in need.
Corporations are joining in as well, with Con Edison helping to sort and package clothing at Family Services of Westchester's The Sharing Shelf in Port Chester. School participation includes students at Mamaroneck High School making "shelter welcome bags" for survivors of domestic violence at My Sisters' Place in White Plains.
"We are encouraging people to 'Make it a day on, not a day off' and to donate their time to help solve community problems while also honoring the legacy of Dr. King," said Alisa H. Kesten, executive director of The Volunteer Center. "The wide range of projects we sponsor with regional nonprofits address pressing issues such as poverty, hunger, homelessness and inequality. This is truly a wonderful opportunity for families to serve together and people of all ages and walks of life to join neighbors and local leaders to help make a difference in their own backyards."
Detailed information is available at www.volunteer-center.org/mlk2014 and early registration is encouraged. Family-friendly projects are listed at www.volunteer-center.org/familymlk2014. Times and dates are posted on the Web site.