“Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve”  —  Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

From his sermons as a pastor in Atlanta, Georgia, to his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. preached the importance of love, tolerance, and service.

With that in mind, Martin Luther King Jr. Day — Monday, Jan. 18, 2016 — is recognized as a national day of service. This year, there are many opportunities not just to celebrate Dr. King, but to live by his words.

Find a Community Service Event Near You

Through Volunteer Generation Fund grants provided by the Corporation for National and Community Service, the Massachusetts Service Alliance (MSA) is funding 13 organizations throughout the Commonwealth to host community service events to honor Dr. King’s life and work, including:

• Boston — The nonprofit organization Boston Cares is coordinating multiple volunteer projects to promote literacy. Volunteers will be assembling Reading Success Kits, which will include building bookshelves, creating reading journals and story starters, and assembling lap desks to support young readers at local schools. The family-friendly event includes activities for children ages 5 and older.
• Cambridge — The Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service event in Cambridge held by Many Helping Hands 365 and the Cambridge Community Foundation is one of the largest in New England. Volunteer opportunities include providing food and clothing and making scarves and blankets for those in need. Make sure to register for the Cambridge event online.
• Lynn — When you register as a volunteer for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service in Lynn, you can choose to make valentines for senior citizens, collect food items for local shelters, serve lunch, and more. Volunteers of all ages are welcome.
• North Adams — The Northern Berkshire Community Coalition is hosting its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, which will include volunteer activities focused on construction, providing food for those in need, and bettering the community as a whole.
• Hyannis — Barnstable County AmeriCorps Cape Cod (ACC) is hosting a half-day community service event in Hyannis. Volunteers can help make fleeces and artwork for those in need, donate canned goods, pack bags of food for local students, and more.

Check the individual listings for details about registration deadlines, age limits, and required time commitments. You can also use MSA’s search tool to find other community service events in your area.

How do you plan to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day? Leave a comment or tweet us @MassGov.

Tags: community service, day of service, Martin Luther King, Martin Luther King Day, Martin Luther King Junior Day, service, volunteer, volunteering