Kids In the Community: MLK Day of Service

The first of the year has come and gone and many of us are still in holiday hangover mode and feeling drained of both energy & money, or is that just me?. We’re getting used to how the house looks without all that fun & festive décor and getting back into the swing of things with work and after-school schedules. It’s a tiring way to start off the new year.

Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash

Without fail, many of those Christmas must-haves our little ones pined over are broken because kids are monsters half-forgotten already. And it’s about this time that we re-think all of that over-spending and wondering if these kids even know how thankful they should be. If that’s the case for you, you’re definitely not alone. It’s a sign of the times. We want to provide happiness for the people we love and it’s easy to think that material possessions can do just that. But it doesn’t always work that way. When you know better, you do better though. Gratitude, after all, is a trait best learned by observing the spirit of thankfulness. Giving back to those truly in need is a terrific way to help ourselves remember what’s important.

With the holiday honoring Martin Luther King Jr. today, it’s the perfect time to shake off those holiday regrets and start your year off by modeling grace and giving back. Dr. King was an activist for change and inclusion. His life’s work was devoted to speaking out against injustice, serving those disenfranchised, and spreading love. 

King once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”

He was so passionate, that Martin Luther King Day is the only federal holiday observed as a national day of service. We could all learn a lot from his example. I believe teaching your children about volunteerism early on sets the tone for youngsters that feel connected to their community and empowered by their own good deeds. If you’re in the Atlanta area and looking for ways to have your little ones give instead of getting for once, you don’t have to go far:

Angels Among Us Pet Rescue

Age: All are welcome

What could be better than giving back without leaving your house? Angels Among Us, partners at-risk animals at small shelters with loving families. “Fostering helps an animal in need and can also teach children about proper animal care. If they have never been around animals as pets, this is also a good way to introduce them to the joy of animals. Always supervise kids with the animals to ensure their safety and the safety of the animal.“ Contact Angels Among Us for more details.

Atlanta Community Food Bank

Age: 8+

“The mission of the Atlanta Community Food Bank is to fight hunger by engaging, educating and empowering our community. While our core work is food distribution, our efforts extend far beyond that.  Our mission is lived out every day through seven projects that help engage, educate and empower both people in need and those who want to help. From supporting community gardens to assisting people in finding economic security, the Food Bank covers a wide range of opportunities for people to learn and get involved.” Help ACFB by sorting and organizing. There are tons of opportunities available, mostly on weekends and weeknights.

Atlanta Moms Making a Difference

Age: All are welcome

This unique program matches mom/children teams to a host of activities throughout the year. All projects are geared toward kids volunteering alongside their adult family member. AMMD touts their core values and primary focus this way, “[We are} people first – helping, supporting, and accepting all people in need; kindness matters – taking the extra step in intentional connections; child-focused – providing kid-friendly volunteer opportunities; service beyond self – exposing kids to the needs in their local community; and community partnerships: working together effectively to serve within our city.” Reach out to Atlanta Moms Making a Difference to find out more. 

Trees Atlanta

Age: 12+ 

If your kids love getting down & dirty for a good cause, look no further than Trees Atlanta. “Trees Atlanta, has volunteer opportunities just about every Saturday year-round. This hands-on, “dig in the dirt” activity is a great way to meet new friends and get to know more about the community while also helping make it a better place to live. On Saturday mornings from 9:00 a.m. – 12 noon, we meet our volunteers in a different neighborhood in Atlanta for tree planting, tree care, or forest restoration projects (depending on the time of year). It’s fun and free! It’s a great way to meet new friends and get to know [the city].” Most volunteers for tree maintenance projects are ages 12 and up but there are lots of great ways to work alongside Trees Atlanta.

Help From Home

Age: All are welcome

And if all else fails and you can’t commit to a regular schedule of volunteering, there are still ways to get the kids involved in community service. A great way to give back closer to home is to gather donations for local shelters.

Places like the Atlanta Mission are always in search of household items for those they serve. Pair those gently used blankets & sheets from the linen closet with urgent necessities like new toothpaste, wipes, women’s hygiene products and even small first aid kits and make your way over to a shelter. Another organization, El Refugio, is a ministry of hospitality in Lumpkin, GA that serves detained immigrants by attending to families that visit and care for them. They have a need for meals (that can be frozen or re-heated), help with laundry after weekend events, and book donations for those detained. Basically, you have options, just look around to find your calling.

We don’t have to go far to show our kids that a little effort goes a long way to help make someone’s day brighter. Giving back does wonders for the giver and the recipient. Make community service a regular part of your family time and see how much it impacts your children this year. We can all choose to make a difference today.

So are you planning anything for this year’s MLK Day of Service, how does your family give back?