National Day of Service

Never has it been more important to come together in shared purpose to tackle the common challenges we face.

USAService.org

Everybody can be great,
because everybody can serve.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

In 1994 Congress passed the King Holiday and Service Act, designating the King Holiday as a national day of volunteer service. Instead of a day off from work or school, Congress asked Americans of all backgrounds and ages to celebrate Dr. King's legacy by turning community concerns into citizen action.

The King Day of Service brings together people who might not ordinarily meet, breaks down barriers that have divided us in the past, leads to better understanding and ongoing relationships, and is an opportunity to recruit new volunteers for your ongoing work.

Participation in the King 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.

We are one people;
We are one nation; and together,
We will begin the next great chapter
in America's story.

President-Elect Barack Obama

The USAService.org website is designed to help promote these events and for Americans to make their commitments, build communities, find opportunities to serve and share their results.

These can be events that engage people in direct service, or bring people together to reflect on Dr. King's legacy and how they can commit to becoming more engaged citizens.

When you choose to serve -- whether it's your nation, your community or simply your neighborhood,

You are connected to that fundamental American ideal that we want life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness not just for ourselves, but for all Americans.

That's why it's called the American dream.

President-elect Barack Obama

This lens benefits DonorsChoose.org, an organization dedicated to addressing the scarcity and inequitable distribution of learning materials and experiences in our public schools.

Donors Choose is one of Squidoo Charity that benefits a public program.