COLUMBUS, Ohio (10TV) -- The words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. continue to remind us of the power of community.
On Monday, people across the nation celebrated the civil rights leader's life and legacy by giving back on the 25th MLK Day of Service.
The Corporation for National and Community Service describes the third Monday in January as, "a day on, not a day off." According to their website, "MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities."
However, it is important to remember, this is not the only time to give back.
The Corporation for National and Community Service has some ideas of easy ways to volunteer all year:
- Serve meals at a local shelter or community kitchen
- Become a tutor or mentor with an after-school program
- Host a resume writing/review workshop
- Conduct practice interviews
- Organize a food donation drive - get a list of items local food pantries need in advance
- Connect with local, state, or national park services to beautify parks
- Serve at a community garden
- Make and distribute disaster preparedness kits
- Collect and share information about free tax prep services
- Read to students or seniors - contact a local community or senior center
- Volunteer at an animal shelter
- Offer to rake leaves, clear a walkway, run an errand, or replace lightbulbs for a neighbor
For more information on how you can connect with your community, click here.