City’s Neighbor-to-Neighbor Initiative Seeks Volunteers For National Day of Service

By -

Monday, January 21, 2013 marks the 27th anniversary of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday which is celebrated as a National Day of Service. Dr. King once said, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?'" To celebrate the Federal Holiday locally, the City’s Neighbor-to-Neighbor initiative is encouraging all city residents to take a “Day On, Not A Day Off” by committing to serve each other and the various communities of the city on this very special day.

Mayor Dwight C. Jones stated, “Volunteering and helping others through service is a perfect way to honor the life, teachings and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It is my hope that city residents will participate in the National Day of Service through our Neighbor-to-Neighbor initiative or on there on, as volunteering has a positive impact on our city.”

The City’s Neighbor-to-Neighbor initiative is promoting the following volunteer opportunities that are led by its collaborative partnership agency HandsOn Greater Richmond:

Bellevue Elementary School - “100 Year Celebration”
January 19 from noon to 4 p.m.

Virginia Supportive Housing - “Visions and Dreams Party”
January 21 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Feedmore – Central Virginia Foodbank – “Warehouse Warriors”
January 21 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Feedmore – Central Virginia Foodbank – “Community Kitchen Assistants”
January 21 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

YWCA – “Create a Counseling Room”
January 21 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

William Byrd Community House - “New Year Clean Start”
January 21 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

REAP (Richmond Entrepreneurs’ Assistance Programs) – “New 2 U Sports Equipment Drive & Sorting”
January 21 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Maymont Foundation – “Easter is in the Bag”
January 21 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Residents looking to get involved in a MLK Day project should go to www.richmondgov.com/NeighborToNeighbor/VolunteerLocally.aspx.

The City’s Neighbor-To-Neighbor initiative will also be participating in a MLK Celebration event jointly sponsored by Richmond Preparatory Christian Academy and the New Jubilee Educational and Family Life Center, and supported by the city’s AmeriCorps ACES programs. Richmond Prep “Dreamworks Program” and New Jubilee’s “Heroes and Dreams Academy” will host a Breakfast commemorating the heroic legacy of Dr. King with direct linkage to community. This is an all day (closed) event for children ages 5-18 and will include various organizations in the community sharing with the youth what they do in the community, providing on-site service learning opportunities.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact the Neighbor-to-Neighbor office at (804) 646-6528 or at Neighbor2Neighbor@richmondgov.com.