MLK events mark holiday’s day of service

University students and Athens residents are doing all they can to honor Martin Luther King Jr. by making Monday a day on — not off.

Hands on North East Georgia is sponsoring it’s 10th annual MLK Day of Service this year which includes cleaning up in local parks and gardens.

“Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service is a part of United we Serve, the President’s national call to service initiative,” according to the organization’s website. “It calls for Americans from all walks of life to work together to provide solutions to our most pressing national problems.”

During the day of service, the organization has a special project involving University students, but registration is full. those still wishing to get involved should register with Hands on NEGA on its website.

According to the University Center for Leadership and Service website, the University-exclusive event will take volunteers from the Tate Center and transport them to different volunteer sites where they will participate in activities such as a rain garden clean-up at school garden, a reorganization day at the local Boys and Girls Club and a community garden workday at a local non-profit.

The volunteer event is just one honoring the civil rights activist’s efforts in service.

On Sunday, the organization will host a community gathering at the Lyndon House Arts Center at 2:30 p.m. for families to hear from community leaders and enjoy music, arts and crafts, the website said.

Other events on Monday include: a worship service sponsored by Athens Area Human Relations Council at 1:30 p.m. and the 2nd annual Dream to be Able ML5K walk starting at Weaver D’s at  3 p.m.

MLK events mark holiday’s day of service