From Village Soup (Belfast, Maine)
In 1994, Congress designated the Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday as a national day of service, or a day on, not off. The Maine Commission for Community Service shares with the Corporation for National and Community Service responsibility for ensuring that Dr. King is remembered through volunteer service that advances tolerance, social justice, and opportunities for all citizens to thrive.
Recently the Maine Commission for Community Service challenged communities across Maine to develop volunteer service projects that unite community sectors in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. The Maine Commission for Community Service is happy to announce that eight organizations have been awarded $500 grants to implement Martin Luther King Day of Service Projects.
The Commission encourages local citizens to contact a project in their community and take part in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. This special day of service is an important way for Maine’s people to experience the significance of service, volunteerism and collaboration amongst their neighbors. These service projects will not only impact their communities, but also celebrate the legacy of Dr. King and his commitment to service, non-violence and diversity. The following organizations with local ties were selected:
• Goodwill Industries of Northern New England will be hosting events across Cumberland, Sagadahoc, Penobscot, Knox, Kennebec, Oxford, York, Washington, Waldo, Aroostook, Piscataquis, Hancock, Somerset and Franklin Counties between Jan. 14-16. The purpose of the events will be to raise awareness about the obesity epidemic in Maine as well as across the country. Each site will feature a local chef who will teach ways to eat healthy, affordably, as well as a fitness expert who offer fitness classes free of charge as well as fitness advice. If you would like more information or are interested in volunteering at this event, contact Joely Ross at joely.ross@goodwillnne.org or 370-3936.
• The Game Loft will be partnering with the Belfast Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, three local lawyers, Thornton Academy, the Belfast Peace and Justice Committee, RSU 20 and the local cable access channel to put on a mock trial with local youth at the Belfast Unitarian Universalist Church on Jan. 16 from noon to 5 p.m. At the event, the three lawyers will act as the prosecution, defense and the judge, while members of the community will serve as the jury. The Restorative Justice program will then moderate a discussion group at the end of the trial. The local cable access channel will televise the trial. If you would like more information or are interested in getting involved, contact Patricia Estabrook at pestabrook@spurwink.org or 338-3800.
The Maine Commission for Community Service is the state government partner of the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency that administers AmeriCorps, Senior Corps and Volunteer Generation programs.
The state Commission builds capacity and sustainability in Maine’s volunteer and service communities by funding programs, developing managers of volunteers and service-learning practitioners, raising awareness of sector issues, and promoting service as a strategy to solve local problems.
