Martin Luther King Jr. Day is the only federal holiday designated as a day of service—a “day on, not a day off.” Below are a few great ways to get involved around the South, be it through litter pickup, donating to a food drive, giving blood, or attending a discussion.
Alabama
Check out United Way of Central Alabama’s list of outdoor volunteer opportunities that include community cleanups, gardening, and invasive species removal. Or, head to the office of Wild Alabama—an organization dedicated to protecting places such as Bankhead National Forest—to help them move to a new location. In Birmingham, you can assist at a food bank, volunteer at Hayes Elementary School, or visit the Civil Rights Institute. Find these and more ways to give back here.
Arkansas
Keep Arkansas Beautiful is celebrating thirty years of MLK Day service with a litter pickup. Engage Arkansas shared a variety of events and opportunities to pitch in around the state–they’re also helping Arkansas Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission reach their goal of getting 7,500 youths committed to service. Attend trail cleanups hosted by Keep North Little Rock Beautiful and the Central Arkansas Master Naturalists, or volunteer at KLEK, Jonesboro’s first and only Black-owned radio station.
Florida
Miami’s MLK Day Parade—one of the country’s oldest and largest MLK Day events—will begin at 11 a.m. on Monday and follow eight miles that Dr. King traveled during his frequent engagements in the city. Help fight food insecurity in Clay County by volunteering at Feeding Northeast Florida’s warehouse to help sort and distribute goods to those in need.
Georgia
Shades of Green Permaculture is pioneering a year-long landscape design project at ArtsXchange—a cultural center that uplifts and supports Black artists—and is inviting volunteers to plant cover crops, stabilize soil, and more. The volunteer organization Hands on Atlanta will be hosting a series of events in MLK’s hometown on Monday and all month long, both in person or virtually. You can garden, repair wheelchairs, pack wellness bags, and remove invasive species from local parks. The King Center, in partnership with other local nonprofits, is collecting items for the homeless and unsheltered as part of their Beloved Community Service Project; you can donate in person or purchase items off their Amazon wish list.
Kentucky
The University of Louisville is hosting an MLK Day of Service including an educational program and transportation to on- and off-campus service sites. In Lexington, you can participate in a variety of virtual and in-person events such as a donation drive, a teens and seniors technology workshop, and making cards for veterans. The University of Kentucky will celebrate their fifty-second MLK Day celebration.
Louisiana
New Orleans City Park is hosting a park-wide event to rejuvenate the community’s greenspace where volunteers can clean, paint, weed, plant, and more. The Ogden Museum is offering free admission for a day that combines art and activism. Attendees can participate in a variety of events, from crafting peace bracelets and freedom bells to meditation classes; find more here. Check out LSU’s list of community events in Baton Rouge.
North Carolina
Visit Raleigh’s Activate Good page for more MLK Day opportunities, including meal service delivery, community cleanups, and school beautification. The Volunteer Center in Greensboro is hosting a variety of service projects for their MLK Week of Service; see more information here.
South Carolina
Celebrate and serve on MLK Day at the Columbia Museum of Art, the University of South Carolina, or the South Carolina State House; more information on those events here. In the Lowcountry, the YWCA Greater Charleston will hold an ecumenical service on Sunday as well as a parade on Monday, and encourages people to make an appointment to donate blood. Fort Mill residents can participate in an MLK Call to Service Day by dropping off donations at the Town Hall.
Tennessee
Volunteer Memphis has gathered a list of virtual and in-person volunteer opportunities, including gardening and flower planting, webinars, and city cleanups. In celebration of MLK’s birthday, the National Civil Rights Museum will host “King Day,” an all-day celebration with free admission to the museum and a variety of family activities. They urge attendees to bring nonperishables for the Mid-South Food Bank and to participate in the Vitilant blood drive.
Texas
For their Celebration Week, the Dallas MLK Center is hosting a variety of events and volunteer opportunities, such as produce distribution workshops and a parade. Join the YMCA of Greater Houston for a day of service that includes volunteering at a variety of food distribution sites around the city. In Austin, a parade and festival honoring MLK also includes a food drive benefiting the Central Texas Food Bank.
