The Martin Luther King Jr National Holiday started back in 1994 (signed by then-President Bill Clinton) in honor of the slain African-American civil rights activist. From the beginning, Congressman John Lewis and Senator Harris Wofford planned for MLK day to be a day of performing community service, where ordinary citizens and residents could work for justice and equality. Their favorite phrase was “Take a day on, not a day off,” which captured the spirit of the day perfectly. Here is a list of activities that you can participate in, in his honor; click on the provided links for more information and to register. 

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Sunday, January 18

 

• Keep Durham Beautiful’s Erwin Mills Historic Cemetery Workday (2815 W Pettigrew), 11am–1pm; volunteers are needed to help plant flower bulbs, remove invasive plants, and pick up litter; click here

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• El Futuro’s Lakewood Shopping Center Cleanup (2000 Chapel Hill Rd), 11am–1pm; volunteers are needed to help pick up litter; click here

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• Bulltánica Garden & Grounds Community Workday (105 W Knox St, in Duke Park), 1–3pm; volunteers are needed to help with weeding and removing vines and brush; click here

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Monday, January 19

 

• Keep Durham Beautiful’s W Lakewood Avenue Cleanup with Forest Hills and Southside Neighbors, 10am–noon; volunteers are needed to help pick up litter; click here

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• Community Health Coalition’s Community Outreach Event at First Presbyterian Church (305 E Main St), noon–4pm; volunteers are needed to help pass out food and giveaways and to help with health screenings; click here; medical professional volunteers are needed to administer the glucose and blood sugar screenings at the same event; click here

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• The Book Harvest’s annual Dream Big Book Drive will be held on Monday, January 19, 1–4pm, at Boxyard RTP (900 Park Offices Dr). Donate books (in English and Spanish for young people, newborns through high school), celebrate literacy and community, and support Book Harvest’s mission to promote a love for reading. Free admission; click here for more info. (Please note that the book drive will run through Saturday, January 31; contact Caitlyn Smith at 252-497-2665 or caitlyn@bookharvest.org for details.)

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• Bike Durham’s Transit Equity Day Bench Build Prop Night at ReCity (112 Broadway St), 6–8pm; no construction experienced needed; volunteers are needed to help measure, cut, and label materials so that other volunteers can take them and quickly put together some benches; click here

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Wednesday, January 21

 

• Fresh Start Durham at St Joseph’s Episcopal Church (1902 W Main St), 7–9:30am; volunteers are needed to greet the guests, give them supplies for their free shower, and then clean the area for the next guest; click here

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• Community Health Coalition (308 Crutchfield St), 11am–2pm; volunteers are needed to help fill the food bags and to organize food storage and shelving units in preparation for their next grocery giveaway; click here

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• Diaper Bank of North Carolina, 2:45–4pm; the DBNC’s Essentials Hub delivers diapers, hygiene items, and other essentials directly to families, and volunteers are needed to help set up and break down the events, greet the families and ask what they need (including sizes), and help fill the requests; click here

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Thursday, January 22

 

• Community Health Coalition (308 Crutchfield St), 11am–3pm; volunteers can help during the food giveaway by checking in guests, placing produce in each food bag, giving a food bag to each guest, or by collecting signatures of support of School Meals for All NC; click here.

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