Blue Mass Group

Reality-based commentary on politics.

National Day of Service (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day)

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Dear Friends,

As many of you know, President-elect Barack Obama and Vice President-elect Biden have launched a national day of service to celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.and to encourage Americans to make an ongoing commitment to service on the eve of this historic Inauguration. I am writing to ask you to participate in this effort.
The National Day of Service is a national organizing effort that will engage volunteers across the country as they help organizations in their communities and recruit others to do the same. Here in Massachusetts, we hope to have hundreds of service projects over the course of three days, January 17-20. Many local groups have created events to assist and support organizations in their communities, and numerous organizations have requested help with specific projects. The Presidential Inaugural Committee has launched a website where all of these events can be posted and volunteers can sign up to help: http://www.USAservi ce.org.
 

For non-profits with projects for volunteers:  If you are connected with a non-profit organization and have a specific volunteer need, please post your event at  www.USAservice.org.

Volunteers can sign up online, and hundreds of volunteers will be recruited through phone banks next week.

 

For those interested in volunteering:   I encourage you to join with friends and neighbors and identify a cause or organization you would like to help, and coordinate with an organiztion to learn how you can fulfill a need for volunteers or resources. Volunteers are organizing events that address issues including homelessness and hunger (painting rooms in a shelter, providing a meal at a food pantry), the environment (weatherizing homes of seniors), veterans affairs (volunteering at a VA hospital) and healthcare (assisting at a community health center). Many groups started out with a project for a single day but have already decided that they will make an ongoing commitment to an organization. After you have finalized the details of your service project, please post it at www.USAservice.org.
 

I hope you will celebrate the legacy of Dr. King and the Inauguration of Barack Obama by joining with others and making a commitment to serve.

 

Thank you,

Sarah Compton

(former) Field Director, Massachusetts for Obama

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  1. Friday, January 9, 2009

    General Colin Powell formally announced today the Renew America Together initiative as part of President-elect Obama’s national call to service. Standing in the Mayflower Hotel in Washington D.C., Powell exhorted all Americans to make an ongoing commitment to revitalize our local communities, starting on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

    “The Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday is not only a day off but also for the last 14 years, it has been a day on. It’s a day to reach out to our fellow citizens in need.”

    He encouraged everyone to visit USAservice.org to find or host a service event. More than 4,000 service events are registered on the site already.

  2. Volunteer at Lowell Transitional Living Center

    (Day of Service – January 19)
    From 5:15-7:15 PM we will serve dinner at at the Lowell Transitional Living Center in Lowell, MA. LTLC is a community supported, non-profit organization that provides a safe, temporary shelter for 90 homeless men and women, ages 18 and older, in the Greater Lowell area.

    We need people to make salad, cornbread, desserts, and to bring milk to drop at the center for the dinner. We can let you know if there is a need for more volunteers to serve food. Capacity for volunteer servers is 8-10 people and currently slots are taken. Capacity for making food to drop at the shelter is currently listed as 25 and we could use your help.

    Please write what you would like to bring and drop off. I will get back to you about quantities. If you want to be put on a list for serving, let me know and I can contact you if there is an opening.
    Thanks very much!

    Time: Monday, January 19 from 5:15 PM – 7:15 PM
    Host: Susanne Curry
    Location: Lowell Transitional Living Center
    189 Middlesex Street
    Lowell, MA 01852

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    p>For more info, sign up or leave your question here on BMG.

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