MLK DAY 2010 RESULTS: GLACIAL LAKES REGION
- RSVP, Glacial Lakes Region & Volunteers of America, Dakotas
On January 18th 2010, RSVP Volunteers participated in a donation drive for the local Watertown Salvation Army of Watertown, SD. Despite the cold and snowy conditions, our dedicated volunteers gathered at "Shopko" and the "County Fair" food store between the hours of 12 and 6 pm. The volunteers distributed fliers on MLK Day with a list of Salvation Army needs attached. As a participant, I was able to observe the way customers and our RSVP volunteers interacted. Since our volunteers are part of the community, the event was very comfortable and the interactions were positive. The stores that hosted our events were kind, generous, and more then happy to accommodate the volunteers. Despite a difficult economy, people continued to give without hesitation understanding that this year, the need is great. We collected over 750 nonperishable items totaling over 2000 dollars in worth in addition to small monetary donations. These goods will serve to restock the shelves at the local Salvation Army, ensuring that we are able to help those with the greatest need in our community. Thank you to all the volunteers who came out in the snow to collect and to those who helped to deliver the goods donated.
- Bowden Youth Center, Sioux Falls SD, January 16th
The Bowden Youth Center, Sponsored by Volunteers of America, kicked off their "40 Days of Peace" project on Saturday January 16th. The project is a multifaceted series of community events that honor Dr. King by fostering dialogue and action that promotes a more peaceful way of living. The project asks the individual to live out Dr. King's dream in their daily lives for at least 40 days through peace thoughts and actions. During the forty days, those involved will meet on scheduled Saturdays to celebrate peace, dine together, and reflect on their progress so far.
The first of these community celebrations took place on the 16th from 4:30 -6:30 pm. During this time there were prominent community speakers including the Mayor and the President of the Multicultural Center. Following the speakers, we were treated to the sounds of local music including a sing along of the famous "We Shall Overcome." Finally, we wrapped up the event with a delicious communal dinner.
This event would not have been possible without volunteers. Volunteers helped to hand make decorations, to make and serve food, and to clean up afterward.
The event was very successful, drawing participants across all demographics and backgrounds. The children involved with our program were able to learn about Dr. King and to experience other cultures in a safe and fun community setting. I was particularly impressed with the speech from the President of the Multicultural Center that expressed how important MLK Day is to him as a refugee and a respected community leader.
More information on this continuing event: http://www.volunteermatch.org/search/opp624124.jsp
- Other MLK DAY Reports for 2010:
Stay tuned as I post more pictures from MLK Day events and reports on activities that took place this week!
For more information on the life and work of Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Jr, Please click on the links below. The work of Dr. King challenged inequality, violence, poverty, and all forms of injustice. Please click to read and learn about his work. Remember: Make MLK Day a day ON not off!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/king_martin_luther.shtml
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/special/mlk/
http://mlk-kpp01.stanford.edu/
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