"Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?’”
This quote by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. exemplifies his life and work. King devoted his time to serving others, so it’s only fitting that MLK Day—the federal holiday that marks his birthday—is the nation’s only official day of service.
On the third Monday in January, Americans are reminded of King's work as a minister, visionary leader and activist for civil rights, and we are called to serve others in his honor.
Learn more about MLK Day and ways that you can help to make it a meaningful day of service.
A brief background
At the height of the Civil Rights Movement in the late 1950s and early 1960s, King became a voice for racial equality. A minister from Atlanta, Georgia, he made significant progress for the African American community in just 13 years of leadership through compelling words and acts of nonviolence. King emphasized love, kindness, unity, peace and justice.
Among his many accomplishments, he served as a spokesman for the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955, leading the U.S. Supreme Court to rule that it was unconstitutional to segregate transportation. He led the March on Washington in 1963, drawing a quarter of a million people to the National Mall, where he delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. This event, in part, led to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, stating that racial segregation and discrimination of Blacks and other minorities was illegal. King also became the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.
Fifteen years after King’s assassination, President Ronald Regan designated the third Monday in January as Martin Luther King Jr. Day. King, whose birthday is January 15, is the only non-president recognized with a federal holiday.
In 1994, President Bill Clinton delegated MLK Day as the only federal holiday that also is a day of service. Congressman John Lewis and former Senator Harris Wofford proposed the legislation, encouraging Americans to make it “a day on, not a day off” in honor of King’s life of service.
Now, in King’s memory, Americans celebrate his work by serving their communities.
“The greatest birthday gift my husband could receive is if people of all racial and ethnic backgrounds celebrated the holiday by performing individual acts of kindness through service to others,” shared Coretta Scott King.
‘A Day On’
So, what does a national day of service look like? King taught us that it is a simple act of love: “Everybody can be great… because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”
Serving others and volunteering in our communities can help us to grow stronger, break down barriers, and build solutions as people from all backgrounds work together.
Simple acts of service can go a long way. It can be done from home or in your community, by yourself or with a group. However you choose to serve in honor of MLK Day, your work will make a difference.
And your work not only benefits your neighborhood or community, it benefits you as well. Volunteering improves our health, aiding in lowering our blood pressure, boosting our mental health, and increasing our social networks. It helps us to live happier, longer lives!
With all that in mind, here are our suggestions for serving and making MLK Day “a day on, not a day off.”
Acts of service
There are countless ways to volunteer for your neighbors and communities. Here are a few of our favorites:
- Donate or volunteer to serve at a food pantry. More than 44 million people in the U.S. face food insecurity, and last year, 49 million people sought food assistance. You can help feed members in your community by donating items to a local food pantry. Or, share your time to serve meals or coordinate grocery pickups and deliveries. Visit Feeding America to learn more about how you can help or look for local food pantries in your community.
- Help students succeed. Check with your local school district and ask if they need donations or volunteers. You could organize a book drive or collect school supplies and backpacks. You could also donate your time by volunteering to tutor students, work in the library, or contribute to after-school programs.
- Support a cause that’s important to you. Whether it’s the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, the Wounded Warrior Project, Habitat for Humanity, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America or countless other longstanding and reputable organizations whose causes align with your values, reach out and become an active volunteer! Ask what needs they have and how your skills are a good match. Spending some time each week devoted to a cause that you believe in will improve your life and your community.
- Make your community clean and green. This is something you can do on your own or through your local government or community organizations. Check with your local parks and recreation department, rails-to-trails organizations, environmental groups and more to see where they could use an extra hand. You can clean up facilities, plant trees or help to organize local events. Or, simply take a walk through your community and help to pick up trash, clear drains and beautify your neighborhood.
- Check on your neighbors. Act of service can be small, individual and thoughtful. Help an elderly neighbor with yardwork or a grocery trip. Ask new parents if you can bring them a meal, help run errands or watch their children. Genuinely ask how your friends and neighbors are doing—sometimes a talk, a smile and some support go a long way.
Of course, military members and their families are no strangers to service. The IHG® Army Hotels team is grateful for the service of our military, and for all those who act with love and kindness to honor Dr. King’s legacy.