MLK Day Volunteer Opportunities for UM-Flint Campus Community

The University of Michigan-Flint is leading a series of service opportunities throughout the Flint community on MLK Day 2016.

Volunteers, including university faculty, staff, and students, are encouraged to register for a wide range of service opportunities throughout the day on January 18, such as Carriage Town Ministries, Habitat for Humanity, Hispanic Technology and Community Center, Joy Tabernacle, King Karate, and the YWCA.

"It's extremely important to celebrate the remarkable life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on this special holiday," said Gary Ashley, project coordinator within University Outreach at UM-Flint.

"It's a day for us to not only honor him and the transforming work that he did, but it's a chance for us to work alongside our community partners to continue his work by addressing issues like social justice, diversity, inclusion, and equality right here in our community," he said.

As of the afternoon of January 7, the university was looking for about 60 more volunteers, with nearly 90 people already signed up. Several service sites have received the needed number of volunteers, including My Brother's Keeper, South End Soup Kitchen, and Whaley's Children Center. Last year, about 125 volunteered at service sites, said Ashley.

If faculty or staff receive approval from their supervisor, they can volunteer for one of the listed service opportunities and those hours volunteered would be considered part of their regular work day, according to Human Resources.

Visit the Volunteer Service Opportunities website, to find out where volunteers are still needed, register for a volunteer site, and learn more details about what work will be done at each location. On this website, individuals can also register and learn more details about a blood drive held on MLK Day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Happenings Room of the Harding Mott University Center.