By Kristina Mageau
Every year, the AmeriCorps Youth in Service team creatively helps the Thurston County community on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. This year, there are five excellent projects/events to volunteer and/or attend. Please call the contact person listed for the event you want to volunteer for, before showing up to the event.
AmeriCorps volunteers will be at The Evergreen State College’s Center for Community Based Learning and Action for “A Day of Service Learning” on January 13th, from 10am to 2pm. Students from WaHeLut Indian School will come to the Evergreen State College and do hands on activities themed around MLK and equality with student groups. Volunteers are needed to help with the student groups as they tour the Evergreen campus, to assist with planned activities around the campus, and to help with set-up and clean-up for the event. Contact Ian Campbell at (360)867-6137.
On January 16th, another group of AmeriCorps volunteers will be at the Lacey Boys and Girls Club, from 10am to 12:30pm. The “Health Yourself!” event will provide families in the community with opportunities to learn about and practice healthy lifestyles. This project will increase awareness around holistic healthy living choices for families. They need volunteers to assist as greeters, information distributors, station attendants, presenters, and to help with food and water distribution. Contact Sarah Jordan Welch, (360) 586-2888 x 110.
The third group of AmeriCorps volunteers invites you to help prepare food for the Bingo Night evening, as well as set up and clean up. A bingo “caller” is needed for the evening as well. Come to the Rochester Boys and Girls Club on January 13th, for Bingo Night from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. Contact Kristine Fisher at (360)273-6375.
The fourth AmeriCorps group is putting on “Project W.A.R.M.T.H: Warm Available Resources Mobilizing Temporary Help.” They are collecting non-permanent shelter and cold weather items including but not limited to: tents, tarps, rope, stakes, socks, waterproof boots and shoes, sleeping bags, blankets, and jackets. If you have these new or gently used donations, give them by January 14th. If you would like to volunteer your time, you can sort donations or hand out the donations, help write “Thank You” letters to the businesses and organizations that have donated. Come to Sylvester Park on January 14th & 15th, 10:00am-3:00pm; January 16th, 11:00am-3:00pm to volunteer your time. Contact Person: Sarah Hodge, (360)918-6297.
Last but not least, an AmeriCorps group is holding a silent art auction at the Mpowerment building on January 16th, from 5pm to 8pm. The gallery will be held at 317 4th Ave E, on the 4th floor, and will showcase an eclectic selection of visual art (including a piece created by this reporter), related to human rights. The entry cost is $1, and the cost of the art will vary. If you would like to volunteer, help is needed in the areas of setting up art for the event, engaging event participants, and assisting with sound equipment. Musical performers are also requested. Contact Neal Jensen: (650)704-1424.
Check the calendar at www.olympiapowerandlight.com for more MLK Day events.