Honor Dr. King’s legacy with service to the community

By Jennifer Bowman, volunteer services coordinator, Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs

In order to help maintain safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs will not be hosting any in-person, service-project activities at its museums and historic sites in commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 18, 2021.

Observed each year on the third Monday in January as “a day on, not a day off,” Martin Luther King Jr. Day is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities. Over the past 25 years, AmeriCorps has been charged with organizing, promoting and leading service activities associated with the holiday as part of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. In 2021, AmeriCorps is collaborating with the Presidential Inaugural Committee on the event.

In keeping with the day of service, the division encourages individuals, families and groups to reach out to fellow community members in need through safe, virtual or socially distanced ways that will still honor the spirit and dedication of Dr. King’s legacy of service, and to help each other — especially in difficult times.

Following are some things that you can do!

• Collect food and supplies for people in need

Food Bank of Delaware
E-mail: foodbank@fbd.org
Newark (headquarters), 222 Lake Drive, Newark, Del., 302-292-1305
Milford branch, 1040 Mattlind Way, Milford, Del., 302-424-3301
Donated food is accepted at either location, weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. 

First State Community Action Agency
800-372-2240
Sussex County (main office), 308 N. Railroad Ave., Georgetown, Del.
Kent County office, 655 S. Bay Road, Suite 4J, Dover, Del.
New Castle County office, 19 Lambsons Lane, New Castle, Del.
Community action agencies assess local needs and reach out to low-income people in their communities, address their multiple needs and administer a full range of coordinated programs in order to have a measurable impact on poverty.

• Donate to the First State’s own Historically Black College and University — Delaware State University

• Send postcards or letters to an active duty service member or veteran

If you would like to send a handmade postcard or letter to an active duty service member, or a veteran residing at the Delaware Veteran’s Home or a local nursing home — perhaps sharing a memory about your favorite places in Delaware — please send them to the following:

Support Our Troops®
Support Our Troops, 13791 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa, FL 33613
Note: Please do NOT include your address or last name on the card or letter. Leave cards and letters open for inspection to be forwarded on to members of the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps and Navy.

The Delaware Veterans Home
100 Delaware Veterans Boulevard, Milford, DE 19963

Once we can safely resume activities in the near future, we look forward to welcoming you back to many of the division’s sites for service opportunities. If you are interested in learning more about volunteer opportunities with the division, we are happy to hear from you. Please contact me via email at: HCA_VolunteerSvcs@Delaware.gov.

Please share your service activities with the division online by tagging us on social media platforms including:

Facebook: Delaware Historical and Cultural Affairs
Instagram: @SavingDelawareHistory, @DelawareHistory
Twitter: @Savingdehistory

Use the following tags:

#Delawarehistory, #Savingdelawarehistory, #MLKDay2021, #MLKDay, #mlkserviceday, #Delawarecommunityservice, #makeadifference, #giveback, #donate, #serviceprojects, #virtualcommunityservice, #netde

Related Topics:  African American, community service, Volunteerism