Pledge to serve your community to honor the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In light of COVID-19 guidelines, participants should volunteer through various online and socially distant methods. All participants are encouraged to post pictures of their service engagement on social media using #DayOnSU to motivate others!
We also encourage you to join the local community at a virtual celebration of Dr. King on Jan. 17 at 6 p.m. The event is hosted by the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance – Syracuse, InterFaith Works, Alliance of Communities Transforming Syracuse, and the Syracuse Chapter of the NAACP.
Meeting ID: 810 6090 1604
Passcode: MLK2022
Not sure what to do? Here are some ideas:
- Volunteer to read a book to a virtual elementary school class
- “Pay it Forward” to someone in the drive-thru line
- Make dog toys out of t-shirts and donate to local dog shelters
- Paint rocks with inspiring quotes and place them around your neighborhood. Here are inspiring quotes from MLK to get you started!
- Bring new life to the world by planting flowers or trees
- Make cut-and-tie blankets and donate to local daycares
- Make hygiene/toiletry kits to donate to local shelters
- Donate blood to the Red Cross. Find a drive here!
- Deliver meals for Meals on Wheels
- Knit or crochet hats, scarves, ear warmers, or slippers and donate to local organizations
- Collect and donate books, board games, and sport equipment and donate to local youth organizations
- Donate face masks to organizations in need
- Mow a neighbor’s lawn
- Shovel a neighbor’s driveway
- Perform a virtual concert for families that need a smile
- Deliver cookies to friends as a “Just thinking about you” gift
- Help repair a neighbor’s home
- Make first-aid kits and donate to local shelters and youth centers
- Spruce up your local park
- Donate clothing that you no longer wear to local shelters or donation centers
- Donate non-perishable items to your local food pantry
- Make snack baskets and donate to your local hospitals for frontline workers
- Deliver “Just thinking about you” cards to friends and family who cannot leave their homes
Still not sure how to serve? These websites connect you to local nonprofits:
United Way of CNY: With volunteercny.org, you can find opportunities in Central New York that match your skills, interests and availability. You can also track and manage your volunteer hours, provide feedback on your volunteer experience, and find out about special volunteer events and awards.
AmeriCorps: Find volunteer opportunities for local nonprofits in your area. Make sure to follow all COVID-19 health guidelines when volunteering.
Volunteer Match: This website lets you choose different virtual opportunities by selecting what you are interested in, including seniors, children, animals, and more.
What next? Check out our step-by-step checklist:
- Follow us on Instagram @hendrickschapel
- Review the list above! Make a plan to get involved in your community or participate in virtual community engagement opportunities. Please follow all COVID-19 health guidelines in your local community when you serve.
- Serve your community on Jan. 17, 2021
- Post a photo of your service on social media using #DayOnSU and tag @hendrickschapel! Your post can motivate others to serve their community.
- Check back on this website. We’ll collect #DayOnSU social media posts and share them here, to bring our community together virtually!
Sponsored by the Office of Engagement Programs at Hendricks Chapel, OrangeSeeds, and the Office of First Year and Transfer Programs.