Habitat for Humanity volunteers and AmeriCorps members to observe 27th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Community service projects will honor King’s legacy
ATLANTA (Jan. 18, 2013) —More than 400 Habitat for Humanity AmeriCorps members and 100 Habitat affiliates and volunteers will honor Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy Monday by participating in community service projects.
“The beloved community was so central to Dr. King’s legacy and is at the very heart of Habitat’s affordable housing efforts,” said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. “Helping others create new opportunities that evolve from living in a safe and healthy home is a wonderful way to honor Dr. King’s memory. We are grateful to all those who choose to volunteer with Habitat on the MLK Day of Service.”
As part of the 27th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, Habitat for Humanity volunteers and affiliates are participating in a variety of community service projects, including building and repairing homes, painting and landscaping, among other events. These events are part of the national MLK Day of Service, led by the Corporation for National and Community Service in collaboration with the King Center.
Some of Habitat’s volunteer opportunities to honor Dr. Martin Luther King include:
- Cambridge, Md. – AmeriCorps members and volunteers from the military and veteran community will participate in a veterans build day and work to construct an energy-efficient home.
- Pittsburgh, Pa. – Habitat and community volunteers will volunteer on 25 builds in 17 different communities.
- Santa Fe, N.M. – Habitat AmeriCorps members and volunteers will repair the roof of a house.
- Charlotte, N.C. – Volunteers will help to build seven homes and serve in two Habitat ReStores and at a metal recycling center.
- Sea Island, S.C. – Volunteers will work to dry-in a Habitat home.
- Austin, Texas - Habitat will work with AmeriCorps members and volunteers from the East Cesar Chavez neighborhood to complete installation of a raised veggie garden bed, install critically needed handrails to the front and back on a home and paint.
During the 2012 MLK Day of Service, hundreds of thousands of Americans joined together to volunteer across the country. More than 5,000 service projects took place in 32 states, addressing a multitude of social issues from poverty and hunger to homelessness and relief efforts.
Taking place each year on the third Monday in January, Martin Luther King Jr. Day is the only federal holiday observed as a national day of service. The MLK Day of Service is a part of United We Serve, President Barack Obama’s national call to service initiative.
For a full list of volunteer opportunities for the 2013 MLK Day of Service, visit Serve.gov/mlkday.
About Habitat for Humanity National Service Programs
Since 1994, more than 7,000 AmeriCorps members have served with Habitat for Humanity. These individuals have served more than 15,000 U.S. families, contributed more than 12 million hours of service, raised tens of millions of dollars in cash and in-kind resources and mobilized more than 2.5 million volunteers. For more information or to learn how to get involved, please visit www.habitat.org/americorps or www.americorps.gov.
About the Corporation for National and Community Service
The Corporation for National and Community Service is a federal agency that engages more than 5 million Americans in service each year through its core programs, Senior Corps, AmeriCorps and Learn and Serve America, and leads President Obama’s national call to service initiative, United We Serve. Visit nationalservice.gov for more information.
About Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International is a global nonprofit Christian housing organization that seeks to put God’s love into action by bringing people together to build homes, communities and hope. Since 1976, Habitat has served more than 600,000 families by welcoming people of all races, religions and nationalities to construct, rehabilitate or preserve homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions. For more information, to donate or to volunteer, please visit www.habitat.org, or follow us at www.facebook.com/habitat or at www.twitter.com/habitat_org or join Habitat’s blog community at www.habitat.org/blog.