Volunteer Appreciation

February 17, 2010
HandsOn Northwest North Carolina Lends a Helping Hand in Honor of MLK Day 2010

Volunteer at Next Step Winston-Salem, NC- February 17- HandsOn Northwest North Carolina in conjunction with several community partners led many one day service projects in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Focusing on the theme of making MLK Day 2010 “a day ON, not a day off,” HandsOn NWNC together with Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem State University and Big Brothers Big Sisters Services, Inc. planned a Read-In event to promote Dr. King’s messages of service and literacy in conjunction and co-located with one of the largest commemorative events held in our city every year: the 30th Annual Noon Hour Commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday. The day was a huge success as an estimated 100 children participated and 300 volunteers came out to serve others. The collaboration was the first of its kind in Winston-Salem and allowed parents to attend the Noon Hour Commemoration while their children attended the Read-In event. The children learned about Dr. King, performed service such as writing letters to troops,and they also received new and used donated books. Approximately 500 books were distributed to the 100 children who participated in the event.

MLK Day 2010 was more than a one day service event for HandsOn NWNC. The non-profit also partnered with The Computer Training Bridge, West Stokes High School, Ibraham Elementary School and Next Step Ministries to create projects that served seniors, low-income residents, and women affected by domestic violence.

Volunteers constructed a storage closet as well as painted the kitchen at Next Step Ministries. Each one felt they were giving back and creating a warm environment for the women who enter the shelter. “These women are going through a hard time right now and I just want to help make their living space a little more comfortable,” said Vickie Bennett, a HandsOn NWNC volunteer. Dr. King’s message of non-violence and serving others was a large part of the Next Step MLK project.

Established in 1994, the MLK Day of Service aims to be a day ON, not a day off where people of all ages and walks of life come together to improve lives, learn from one another, and lead our nation closer to Dr. King’s “beloved community.”