United Way of the Greater Triangle
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stated so eloquently years ago: “Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve.”
The man, whose life was about service, continually encouraged others to share their time and talent to build stronger communities. United Way of the Greater Triangle offers a way for those wishing to serve in advancing the Triangle by celebrating this year’s MLK holiday with a day “on.”
On Jan. 18, Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Day of Service” takes place throughout the Triangle and scores of volunteers will descend on Durham, Johnston, Orange and Wake counties to work on projects and programs to improve their communities. For the fifth year in a row, United Way of the Greater Triangle, with guidance from local civic groups and area business people, has organized four signature volunteer projects and 30 smaller projects throughout the Triangle that make the Martin Luther King holiday a day “on” instead of a day “off.”
In Durham County, volunteers will help Inter-faith Food Shuttle with stuffing grocery bags and delivering them to families in need. This project will take 50 pairs of hands to accomplish and those interested in helping can sign up at www.unitedwaytriangle.org by clicking on the blue “volunteer” button or by calling (919) 463-5006.
Orange County’s Christ United Methodist Church will use 400 volunteers to make blankets and scarves for local adults and children and also create Valentine goodie bags to be sent overseas to our troops. Forty volunteers are needed to construct wheel chair ramps, helping the Council on Aging, in Johnston County. In Wake County, helpers will gather at the Raleigh Boys Club and repaint the gym and signs and work on construction projects. Using the sign-up information above, everyone, including children, can pick the project that interests them the most for this annual day of service.
Smaller projects abound throughout the Triangle, and those in Durham include painting rooms at Threshold on Gary Street, putting down compost and burlap at Leigh Farm Gardens on Leigh Farm Road, repairing and landscaping Antioch Builds Community on Hyde Park, and cleaning a vacant lot of debris at the Durham Economic Resource Center on Roxboro. In Chapel Hill, a handful of volunteers is needed to paint interior rooms for the women’s halfway house at Freedom House. Other smaller projects are set for Wake and Johnston counties throughout the day, too.
Triangle companies help sponsor the day, ensuring sufficient materials, volunteers and success on all projects. This year’s sponsors include Harris-Teeter, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, State Farm Insurance and IBM. There is still time for corporations and businesses to sponsor this day of service by calling (919) 463-5006. Companies are also asked to encourage their employees to volunteer their time on MLK day.
During his lifetime, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. worked tirelessly toward a dream of equality. He believed in a nation of freedom and justice for all, and encouraged all citizens to live up to the purpose and potential of America by uniting and taking action to make this country a better place to live.
The King Day of Service is a way to transform Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and teachings into community service that helps solve social problems. On this day, Americans of every age and background celebrate Dr. King through service projects that strengthen communities, empower individuals and bridge barriers. These ideas of unity, purpose, and the great things that can happen when all work together toward a common goal are just some of the many reasons United Way of the Greater Triangle honors Dr. King through service on this special holiday.
