Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 12 January 2006 — Page 22

The Muncie Times • January 12, 2006

In the U.S.A. and abroad service projects will honor civil rights martyr Dr. King

The 2006 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service will be held Jan. 16 with activities around the country and the world. Virtually every state will have some service-related activities. Organizers say this is being done because in his lifetime, Dr. King worked tirelessly toward a dream of equality. He believed in a nation of freedom and justice for all, and encouraged all citizens to live up to the purpose and potential of America by uniting and taking action to make this country a better place to live. The King Day of Service is a way to transform Dr. King Jr.’s life and teachings into community service that helps solve social problems. That service may meet a tangible need, such as fixing up a school or senior center, or it may meet a need of the spirit, such as building a sense of community or mutual responsibility. How can you be a part of the Martin Luther King Day of Service? You can join an organized service project in your area or help fill a need yourself—by tutoring a child, helping an elderly neighbor, serving in a homeless shelter, or volunteering at a school or community organization. There are many ways to find service opportunities in your community on the King holiday and throughout the year. The Martin Luther King Celebration Committee has a state by state listing of events happening on MLK Day. It also includes some events around the world. Below is a sample of some of those activities: Project Information: On MLK Day, about 300 volunteers are expected to assmble in Washington, D.C., for a service project to revitalize Ballou Senior High School, 3401 4th St.,

SE). The project is co-spon-sored by America Online and Blank Rome and lunch will be provided by Buca di Beppo. Pre-registration is required. Contact Information: Erin Grenier (202) 742-7394 [email protected] In Naf Atsugi, Japan, 2006 MLK Day of Service Project will include a sports camp, for ages 5 to 15, in baseball, basketball and cheer camp. About 20 volunteers are expected. Contact information: Peter M. Nomoto pmnomoto @ atsugi. navy, mil Back in the United States, in Tuscaloosa, Ala., about 50 volunteers from Tuscaloos County will work side by side with families in need of adequate housing in the construction of a Habitat House. Contact Information: Joy Young 205-349-5343 Ext. 4 [email protected] About 150 Little Rock , Ark., residents will be making peace gardens, mosaics, and painting murals at the Watershed in East Little Rock. Contact Information: Amanda Potter 501-707-1424 apotter@ cityyear.org On Jan 14 2006, Make A Difference of Phoenix, Ariz., will honor Dr. King's legacy by engaging Valley residents in service projects at four sites. Projects will be from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. They will begin with an educational presentation and conclude with a reflection. About 300 volunteers are expected. Contact Information: Megan Lashmet 602-973-2212

megan @ makeadijference.or 8 In Tuscon, Ariz., Primavera Foundation is mobilizing over 1,000 volunteers each month to buy, cook and serve food to the homeless. The group will serve its One Millionth Meal at its Men's Emergency Shelter. After that, all volunteers, staff and clients are invited to take part in the MLK March. Contact Informatioti: Jennifer Soyka Penn - former ACM (520) 623-5111 ext. 102 volunteers @ prirnavera.org In Culver City, Calif., four gospel choirs will sing and youths will read excerpts from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s speeches in between choir breaks.

Contact Information: Marty Nicholson marty. nicholson @ culvercity.org About 5,000 Team Kids, students, police, firefighters and ShareOurStrength volunteers will raise money to end hunger, Jan 14-16 in Irvine, Calif.. Bakers will be visited by police and firefighters. A city wide celebration of MLK Service Project will be held at Irvine City Hall at 5 p.m. Contact information: Julie Hudash 949-654-5437 Jhudash @ teamkids. org Community Restoration Project is expected to attract 1,000 volunteers In Sacramento, Calif., to strengthen local neighborhoods. High-impact, handson service projects will bring awareness to the needs of the local community and bring together individuals from diverse backgrounds to meet those needs. Contact information:

Vanessa Richter 916-447-7063 x344 vrichter @ hands onsacto. org San Diego's, "I Care" Community Fair In San Diego, Calif.: On Jan. 14, VSD and SAVY leaders are taking a stand on school budget cuts and hosting a fair that will feature 19 art and athletic booths and clinics. Youth can try out activities their schools might not provide. Donations will be accepted. Between 100 and 150 volunteers are expected. Contact information: Joy Jankowidk [email protected] 8 MLK Day of Service at King Garvey, San Francisco, Calif., will be an opportunity for the greater community to help beautify an area within the historic Fillmore Neighborhood of San Francisco. The primary tasks are painting, landscaping and mural making. About 211 volunteers are expected. Contact Information: Carlos Levexier GlobalLos @ yahoo, com In Santa Rosa, Calif., a Martin Luther King, Jr. Poetry Night will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Jan. 13 in the Elsie Allen High School Auditorium. A birthday celebration will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 16 at the Luther Burbank Center, featuring poetry and poster contest winners. Contact information: Debra Harris 707 664-2956 debra. harris @ sonoma. edu SHARE Colorado Mural Denver, Colo.: Colorado AmeriCorps and Alumni members will paint a conceptual mural of the work done by SHARE Colorado. The mural begins with food

growing in rural fields and ends with the distribution of food to Colorado citizens at SHARE Colorado host sites. About 60 volunteers re expected. Contact Information: Josh Maynard (720) 946-9022 josh @ theneighborhoodpartners.org P.R. Harris Educational Center, Washington, D.C., will have about 250 volunteers cleaning and painting areas of the school. Contact information: Julie Howard 202/777-4447 jhoward @ dc-cares. org House of Imagene Shelter Washington, D.C., is collecting donated clothing and food. About 40 volunteers are expected. Contact information: Bishop Imagene Bigham Stewart 202-518-8488 [email protected] Greater DC Cares' 2006 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday of Service takes place at the PR Harris Educational Center and Simon Elementary School, Washington, D.C., from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 16. About 250 volunteers are expected. Go to www.dc-cares-org for details. Contact information: Milada Jones [email protected] On MLK Day, join City Year in a service project to revitalize Ballou Senior High School (3401 4th Street, SE). The project is co-sponsored by America Online and Blank Rome. Lunch will be provided by Buca di Beppo. About 300 volunteers are expected. Contact Information: Erin Grenier (202) 742-7394 [email protected]