Honoring the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Through Public Service

As one of the greatest leaders in American history, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. lived a life of service, tirelessly giving his time and talent to make the world better. Since it was first declared a federal holiday in 1983, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day has honored the life and legacy of Dr. King and inspired people to give back through public service.

Today, communities around the country celebrate the January holiday with organized and individual acts of service and volunteerism. Volunteerism not only helps your community, but it can benefit you as well.

Engage in Acts of Service

One of Dr. King’s most famous quotes is, “Everybody can be great because anybody can serve.” In that spirit, if you are looking to volunteer, there are plenty of opportunities in your community and remotely. Here are some ways to get started:

• Think about what interests you and the causes about which you care. Finding the right cause will motivate you to stick with your efforts.
• Identify the areas of greatest need in your community. Whether the issue is hunger, homelessness, military families, or something else, you can always find a way to make a real impact.
• Use your talents to give back. Have a special skill or talent? Teach, perform, or share it with others.
• Help others. Giving back doesn’t have to be an organized event. You can help friends, family members, and neighbors. Even simple acts of kindness count.
• If you don’t have much time, you can make a difference in minutes. Consider micro-volunteering.
• Search out the right opportunity. Use Create the Good’s search function to look for new opportunities to give back.

Use Martin Luther King, Jr. Day to kick off your volunteering efforts. You just might find an organization or cause that you love.