Athens Reporter

In 1994, Congress established the Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday as an official day of service. Athens-Clarke County is among many cities across the United States that have embraced this initiative, promoting it as "A Day On and Not a Day Off."

The upcoming year's celebration will begin with a kick-off event from 8:30 to 9:30 AM at the Lay Park Gymnasium located at 297 Hoyt Street. The first 400 volunteers who register at this event will receive a complimentary t-shirt, and light refreshments will be provided.

Following the initial gathering, more than 30 community organizations, government agencies, cemeteries, and schools will host various volunteer service projects. These include groups such as Acceptance Recovery Center, the Athens Community Council on Aging, Books for Keeps, historic Brooklyn Cemetery, the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia, Project Safe, Shoal Creek Sanctuary, among others.

Online registration for volunteers will open in late December and close on Friday, January 17. Those interested can register through the link available at www.accgov.com/mlkday. There will also be limited opportunities for registration on the day of the event during the kick-off.

For further details or inquiries about participation in these events, individuals can visit www.accgov.com/mlkday or send an email to athensgamlkday@gmail.com.