CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA MLK DAY OF SERVICE
  • Home
  • ABOUT
    • Meet the Team
    • Past Events >
      • 2023 Day of Service
      • 2022 Day of Service
      • 2021 Day of Service
      • 2020 Day of Service
      • 2019 Day of Service
      • 2018 Day of Service
      • 2017 Day of Service
      • 2016 Day of Service
      • 2015 Day of Service
      • 2013 Day of Service
      • 2012 Day of Service
      • 2011 Day of Service
      • MLK50
    • History of MLK Day
  • Events
  • DONATE
    • Physical Donations
    • Become a Sponsor
  • SPONSORS
  • CONTACT US

History of MLK Day of Service

The Martin Luther King, Jr., National Day of Service is a defining moment each year when Americans across the country step up to make communities more equitable and take action to create the Beloved Community of Dr. King’s dream. While Dr. King believed the Beloved Community was possible, he acknowledged and fought for systemic change. His example is our call to action.

MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a National Day of Service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities. Legislation was signed in 1983 creating a federal holiday marking the birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This federal holiday was first observed in 1986.
Picture
In 1994, Congress passed the King Holiday and Service Act, designating the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday as a national day of service and charged the Corporation for National and Community Service with leading this effort. Taking place each year on the third Monday in January, the MLK Day of Service is the only federal holiday observed as a national day of service – a "day on, not a day off." The MLK Day of Service is a part of United We Serve, the President's national call to service initiative. It calls for Americans from all walks of life to work together to provide solutions to our most pressing national problems. The MLK Day of Service empowers individuals, strengthens communities, bridges barriers, creates solutions to social problems, and moves us closer to Dr. King's vision of a "Beloved Community."

Participation in the MLK Day of Service has grown steadily over the past decade, with hundreds of thousands of Americans each year engaging in projects such as tutoring and mentoring children, painting schools and senior centers, delivering meals, building homes, and reflecting on Dr. King's life and teachings. Many of the projects started on King Day continue to engage volunteers beyond the holiday and impact the community year-round.  
Picture
Contact Us
2023 Central PA MLK Day of Service
  • Home
  • ABOUT
    • Meet the Team
    • Past Events >
      • 2023 Day of Service
      • 2022 Day of Service
      • 2021 Day of Service
      • 2020 Day of Service
      • 2019 Day of Service
      • 2018 Day of Service
      • 2017 Day of Service
      • 2016 Day of Service
      • 2015 Day of Service
      • 2013 Day of Service
      • 2012 Day of Service
      • 2011 Day of Service
      • MLK50
    • History of MLK Day
  • Events
  • DONATE
    • Physical Donations
    • Become a Sponsor
  • SPONSORS
  • CONTACT US