Schools

CLC Seeks Volunteers for MLK Day Service Project

Volunteers will work on a variety of projects at social service agencies and schools in northeast Lake County, Jan. 21.

To celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the College of Lake County is seeking up to 250 Lake County volunteers to work on several service projects on Saturday, Jan. 21. Lake County volunteers will be joined by volunteers across the country on this national day of service, committing time and effort to advance local opportunities.

“As the need for service continues to grow, today we honor Dr. King by giving back and making an impact on our local communities,” said Sylvia Johnson, director of the CLC Career and Placement Services office. “Today and throughout the year, we are seeing Americans using the power of service to strengthen their own and each other’s economic security and make a real difference in local communities.”

Volunteers age 10 and above are invited to volunteer in CLC’s MLK Day of Service, including family groups, church and youth groups and scout groups. They will be joined by CLC staff and students, who will gather at the CLC Grayslake campus at 9 a.m. for breakfast, a presentation on Dr. King’s legacy and a performance by the Waukegan Baptist Bible choir. Volunteers will participate in the volunteer “challenge” by working in small groups at various sites from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. After their assignments, volunteers will return to CLC for a pizza lunch and to participate in several creative activities to help them reflect on volunteerism and how it relates to Dr. King’s work to promote peace and justice.

Find out what's happening in Barringtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Volunteers will work on a variety of projects at social service agencies and schools in northeast Lake County, providing their own transportation. The sites include Glen Flora Elementary School, Lyon Elementary School, Family First, NICASA and Waukegan Park Place in Waukegan and at Bernie’s Book Bank in Lake Bluff. One of the projects will be a bookshelf-building event for The Book Bridge, to be held at Home Depot in Gurnee, using materials donated by the store.

The Corporation for National and Community Service leads the annual MLK Day of Service, working with the King Center in Atlanta and thousands of nonprofit groups, faith-based organizations and schools and businesses nationwide.

Find out what's happening in Barringtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

2012 marks the 26th anniversary of the Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday, and projects are being organized in all 50 states. They include delivering meals, refurbishing schools and community centers, collecting food and clothing, signing up mentors, reading to children, promoting nonviolence and more. 

The MLK Day of Service shines a spotlight on service as a powerful force to bridge economic and social divides – today and throughout the year.

“National Days of Service provide each of us with an opportunity to join neighbors and local leaders to tackle community challenges and strengthen the nation. As more families and communities need assistance, we are accepting the challenge put forth by Dr. King to make a difference,” said Carolyn Brodnicki, service learning and cooperative education coordinator at CLC. “We are very excited about joining this national effort.”

The Corporation for National and Community Service is a federal agency that engages more than 5 million Americans in service each year through its core programs, Senior Corps, AmeriCorps and Learn and Serve America. It leads President Obama’s national call to service initiative, United We Serve. Visit www.nationalservice.gov for more information.

Volunteers age 10 and over from the community are needed to volunteer on Jan. 21. Please register at http://clcmlk2012.eventbrite.com/. For questions, contact Carolyn Brodnicki at (847) 543-2058 orcbrodnicki@clcillinois.edu.

The MLK Day of Service is being organized by CLC Career and Placement Services and a committee of CLC staff and students, with assistance from United Way of Lake County.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here