“A day on, not a day off.”

“In 1994, Congress designated 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.” (http://mlkday.gov/about/serveonkingday.php)

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had a vision to empower individuals and build up communities to create one, beloved community. He showed us, as Americans, we all have a duty to our country to make it a better place to live and to form this “beloved community.”

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stated, “What are you doing for others?” AmeriCorps thrives on that question. As AmeriCorps members, we took a pledge to get things done for America. Our goal is to bring Americans together to strengthen our communities. Martin Luther King Day is a perfect time to exemplify our purpose.

On January 19th, 2013, AmeriCorps members celebrated Martin Luther King Day (January 21st, 2013) by serving next to the American Red Cross. Volunteers canvassed through the neighborhoods most at risk for household fires. Volunteers went door to door talking to people living in different Jacksonville communities about fire prevention and, also, handed out resource flyers for free smoke detector installation.



AmeriCorps member, Lauren Pamas watched as an American Red Cross volunteer placed a fire prevention hanger on the doorknob after no one answered at home. A MLK day project had volunteers go door-to door in the nieighboorhood near Emmett-Reed Community Center on January 19th, 2013. Photo credit: Bob Mack/The Florida Times Union