Amid the chaos of modern life, it can be easy to see almost any holiday as just an extra day off to catch up on chores, wrangle the kids or simply take a breather.
But as that happens, the meaning of the holiday often gets lost.
That was a big fear back in 1988, two years after the first Martin Luther King Jr. Day was observed in the United States.
So that year, Pennsylvania Secretary of Labor and Industry Harris Wofford, one of King’s close friends, and his executive assistant, Todd Bernstein, started a push in that state to focus the holiday on something the renowned slain civil rights leader cared deeply about — public service and volunteering.
Creating the first Martin Luther King Day of Service was a popular idea, and it spread. First to neighboring states, and then across the nation.
In Clark County and in the greater Portland area, that day has expanded to encompass the whole weekend. Organizers say it’s a perfect opportunity to learn more about options for volunteering for adults, kids and families.
“The original idea was to make it a day on, not a day off,” said Becky Blumer, director of the Hands On Greater Portland Program, which supports several events in Clark County. “What we did is took that day and created it for a full weekend. Not everybody gets that day off, so we wanted to make sure everyone had an opportunity to volunteer.”
Area opportunities with the group, which is part of the United Way, include volunteering for the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District’s book sale, planting trees and cleaning up around shelters or city parks.
Several of the program’s volunteer efforts throughout the region also focus on ending childhood poverty, which is a major push at the United Way, she said.
“For a new volunteer, what’s great about these hands-on experiences, is it’s our mission to make it so easy to get engaged in this community,” Blumer said. “It’s a one-day commitment, but one of the things we’ve found is that about 40 percent of the volunteers that come out decide to keep coming back (throughout the year).”
The weekend is also a good time to figure out which volunteer efforts suit you best. Blumer said she tried a variety of things before settling on her favorite, which is delivering groceries to seniors in need.
“We have lots of projects and they also list ages that are appropriate,” she said. “Most of the Vancouver projects are family-friendly, as well.”
People can sort through the 60 or so projects in the greater Portland area on the program’s website at www.handsonportland.org/.
And Hands On Greater Portland isn’t the only group hosting volunteer efforts this weekend. The city of Vancouver is also supporting four efforts, and many smaller groups, churches and agencies have other options.
City options on Saturday are the Waterworks and Swift Skate Park cleanup and the Friends of Trees central Vancouver tree planting. City options on the MLK Day of Service are a beach and wetlands cleanup and planting near the Water Resources Education Center and a tree planting along Burnt Bridge Creek.
People can sign up for the city events here: www.cityofvancouver.us/community/page/volunteer-martin-luther-king-jr-days-service.
While it’s preferable for people to sign up in advance, it’s not mandatory. But some opportunities have age restrictions, so it is important to check the information online before going to the event, said Hailey Heath, the city of Vancouver’s volunteer coordinator.
“People should also be prepared for the weather,” Heath said. “Wear long pants, close-toed shoes, layers. Be prepared for all types of weather. In most cases, tools will be provided.”
Some options also require that parents fill out a minor consent form, which can be found online on the city’s site.
“We are always welcoming and encourage more people to get involved,” Heath said. “There are lots of opportunities, and not just with the city. This is a great time to give back to the community, and you might just find out that you enjoy it.”
