In honor of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday today, we’re offering a few ways to celebrate with a day of service.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day — which is Jan. 21 — has become a big day for volunteering. Last year, more than 400 people gave their time to help make sack lunches, fill pantries and deep-clean freezers at the Open Door Mission.
The helping agency serves about 1,700 meals daily to the hungry and homeless each week and has a food pantry for low-income families. A major task to keep that effort going is cleaning out storage units and freezers.
Did you know that it takes 100 people to defrost, clean and place food back into one of the center’s deep freezer? And the Open Door Mission has three deep freezers that need to be cleaned.
No matter how you choose to observe the day, remember that every little bit helps. A few service opportunities:
>> Join the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Student-Community Leadership and Service celebrate the life of Martin Luther King Jr. with a day of service at Laurtizen Gardens and Carver Bank on Monday. Click here if you’d like to volunteer online before the holiday.
>> Volunteer at Blessed Sacrament Parish, 6316 N. 30th St., starting at 8 a.m. Monday.
>> Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity .Habitat for Humanity has several service opportunities from painting to unloading building materials.
>> Donate food. Omaha North High School, Omaha South High School and King Science Center to coordinate a special food drive in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
>> Donate a coat. Collect and donate any new or gently worn coats in collection boxes at Burlington Coat Factory, 12303 West Center Road. Information
>> Give your time. Volunteer at the Open Door Mission, 2828 N. 23rd St., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. You can register here.
If you can’t give your time, create a Hope Tote. Fill a bag with toiletries for the homeless. Suggested items: toothbrush, toothpaste, facial tissue, toilet paper, shampoo, conditioner, combs, deodorant, undergarments and socks.
>> Celebrate with others. Attend an observance after you’re done volunteering. Salem Baptist Church, 3131 Lake St., typically hosts a Unity Service the Sunday following Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
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