by Maire Brosnan Katavolos, Rockland County YMCA
The Rockland County YMCA will partner with Volunteer NY! and Dominican College to honor Dr. Martin Luther King this Saturday Jan 17.
The MLK Day of Service is a part of United We Serve, President Obama’s national call to service initiative. It calls for Americans from all walks of life to work together to provide solutions to our most pressing national problems and moves us closer to Dr. King’s vision of a “Beloved Community.”
Every year Volunteer New York! supports the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service by providing community support, resources, outreach, and linking people with local volunteer projects.
YMCA members and families from our local community will come to the YMCA to learn about homelessness and Midnight Run, a consortium of churches, synagogues, and other civic groups that distribute food, clothing, blankets, and personal care items to the homeless poor on the streets of New York City.
The Dominican College Alumni Outreach Committee will share their experiences and what goes into preparing for a run.
Volunteers will put together sock bundles (water bottle and piece of candy in a pair of socks), tie with ribbon and attach a homemade card. The Dominican College Alumni team will distribute the sock bundles during their run the following week.
The responses to the request for volunteers has been amazing. We had full enrollment within a few days and will be looking to do a few more days of service projects in 2015.
The Rockland County YMCA is committed to youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. It is a charitable, not-for-profit organization that welcomes all people regardless of age, race, religion or economic status and strives to enrich each and every life through a unique, dynamic combination of programs that strengthens spirit, mind and body.
Maire Brosnan Katavolos is Senior Vice President at the Rockland YMCA. For more information about this Saturday’s Day Of Service, email at MBrosnan@rocklandymca.org or call 845-358-0245 x302.
Illustration: ©2015 Bill Batson, Nyack Sketch Log: The YMCA