Every year, as a nation, we honor the man who inspired and lead the Civil Rights Movement with a day full of peaceful marches and services to our community. Nearly 50 years later Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s words of peace, compassion and togetherness still echo in our society. His dream of a better life remains relevant to this day and provides a backdrop for modern day struggles. In the apt words of the late Reverend himself, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is ‘What are you doing for others?’” We can all strive to answer that question for ourselves this Monday by not just observing the holiday, but by giving our time and service to others.
There are a number of events taking place around the city this Monday, but we’ve collected a few volunteer opportunities for those that want to spend the day off by servicing their community. Read below for more details.
Denver Rescue Mission Sunday Breakfast
For those that may not have Monday off but still want to help in some way, the Denver Rescue Mission is looking for volunteers to help serve its weekly Sunday breakfast. Denver Rescue Mission does a variety of things in the community; including housing around 80 homeless men and women each night in their Fort Collins Rescue Mission. They also have a large 209-acre farm, Harvest Farm, where the mission grows crops to help feed the homeless. Volunteers will feed around 200 community members who are battling homelessness in Denver. To volunteer this Sunday contact [email protected]. // Jan. 17th; 3 p.m.-5:30 p.m.; Lawrence Street Shelter; 1130 Park Ave.
Groundwork’s Martin Luther King Day of Service Neighborhood Energy Outreach Program
Groundwork Denver is committed to promoting sustainable energy in homes and businesses and protecting the environment. Every year on Martin Luther King Day Groundwork Denver takes a group of volunteers to a nearby neighborhood where they go door-to-door giving out free energy efficient light bulbs. The volunteers also help sign families up for free energy efficiency audits and provide them with information about sustainability techniques and recycling benefits. This year’s neighborhood is Northeast Park Hill. Volunteers will meet at the Zion Senior Center at 1:00 p.m. before spreading out throughout the neighborhood. To sign up for this volunteer opportunity contact [email protected]. // Jan. 18th; 1 p.m.; Zion Senior Center; 5151 E. 33rd Ave.
Epworth Foundation Annual Cleanup
The Epworth Foundation has been a part of Denver’s community since 2005 and focuses on youth and family counseling and hunger relief. This MLK Day the foundation is looking for volunteers to help spruce up their building on Bruce Randolph Avenue. Volunteers will be painting rooms, shredding old papers, cleaning up the landscape outside and helping to clean out rooms for family counseling. If you are interested in helping out with the annual cleanup contact L.J. Harker at [email protected]. // Jan. 18th; 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Epworth Foundation; 1865 Bruce Randolph Ave.
10th Annual “Get to Cleanin’-Remembering Memphis”
The annual Martin Luther King Day Marade (march and parade) begins at City Park at 9 a.m. and ends at Civic Center Park. With such a large marade route a large cleanup is par for the course. The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Commission of Denver is looking for volunteers to help clean up the marade route after the celebration has ended. Interested volunteers are told to gather at City Park at 10 a.m. and to bring gloves, trash bags and brooms. Volunteers should also be prepared to bring shovels if it snows. The Holiday Commission also asks that all volunteers wear bright colors for safety purposes. Those interested in volunteering for this event can check out the event page on Facebook or contact Jacqui Shumway at 303-725-7482. // Jan. 18th; 10 a.m.-1 p.m.; Marade Route; 17th and Colorado Ave.
