Caught between colliding pressures of a pandemic, political unrest and outcries for social justice, this Martin Luther King Day of Service is unlike any other.
Building and sending care packages Without the hassle of finding parking or forgetting your facemask at home, one way to spread goodwill on MLK Day is by making at-home care packages for those in need of cheer. Operation Gratitude is offering a number of virtual ways to spread joy to frontline workers and military members. With convenience in mind, this organization has set up an Amazon wish list through the Amazon Smile Program. After purchase, items like socks, sunscreen, and beef jerky are shipped to Operation Gratitude. From there, care packages are assembled and sent to those on the front lines. “Volunteers are the heart and soul of Operation Gratitude,” says Danielle Teconi, the organization’s communications director. “Anyone, from anywhere, can participate from home, as it’s self-guided and self-paced,” she explains. As an added perk, eligible purchases made through the organization’s wish list will kick back a small donation to the charity. For crafty volunteers, Operation Gratitude also offers a step-by-step guide on how to make eye-catching letters of gratitude for military personnel and essential workers. And, for those who sew, volunteers can lend their talents on MLK Day to create knitted crafts as a part of the organization’s Hand Made with Love initiative. Soft keepsakes like crochet hats, scarves and handmade bags can cheer up deployed troops when home feels far away. Teaching and learning opportunities This year’s day of service provides a timely opportunity to learn about existing public health disparities made worse for communities of color by Covid-19. In honor of Dr. King’s commitment to public health access, Global Citizen 365 is hosting a national conversation on “Justice and the Covid-19 Health Crisis.” The online event will take place via Zoom at 3 pm Eastern on Martin Luther King Day.
