On January 17, we honor Martin Luther King Jr. with a national holiday. Schools and offices will close. But many people will still be working hard—serving as volunteers.
In 1994, the United States government said that the holiday is a day of service. All Americans are encouraged to volunteer in their communities.
Last year, a group called Kids Helping Kids in Connecticut planned an event. Sixty kids helped pack 1,000 meals for hungry kids.
Want to get involved in your commmunity? Hannah Paddock works at Kids Helping Kids and says helping out is easy. Write a note to a teacher or classmate who has made a difference. Donate coats your family has outgrown. Help out at a soup kitchen.
“Do one little thing for your family or a neighbor,” Paddock says. “Just think about why you have the day off and put some action behind that.”