What Will You Be Doing on Jan. 20?
Consider participating in Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service
What are your plans for Jan. 20? Will you spend the day watching inauguration festivities on TV?
Here's an alternate possibility and one that could lead, ultimately, to the following outcomes: an enriched sense of purpose in life, lower blood pressure, increased energy and self-esteem and decreased stress and loneliness. You may even live longer.
The cherry on top? A guaranteed warm, fuzzy feeling.

All of the above perks of volunteering — and more — can flow from participating in Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service on Jan. 20.
Background on MLK Day
Martin Luther King Jr. Day (MLK Day) is observed each year on the third Monday in January. (King was actually born on Jan. 15.) This year that means MLK Day falls on Monday, Jan. 20, the same day as the presidential inauguration.
"Service strengthens communities, and transforms the lives of the individuals served, and the volunteers who serve."
Dr. King was perhaps the foremost leader of the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 60s. His commitment to opposing racial and economic injustice through nonviolent resistance earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.
On April 4, 1968, King was tragically assassinated. Soon after, a campaign to honor his memory with a federal holiday began. Martin Luther King Jr. Day was first observed as a federal holiday in 1986. Eight years later, President Bill Clinton signed a bill into law making MLK Day the very first National Day of Service; a day when Americans are encouraged to volunteer to help improve their communities and make the world a little bit better. (The only other national day of service is Sept. 11 which was designated in 2009.)
When President Clinton signed the bill into law, he noted how fitting it was that the nation honor King by pledging a day of volunteering in his honor, stating "This celebration of Dr. King will now be a celebration of his vision of community, his vision of service."
AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism (think VISTA, AmeriCorps Seniors and other programs) has been tasked with coordinating MLK Day of Service since its inception.
"The Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service is a defining moment each year when Americans across the country step up to make our communities more equitable and take action to build the Beloved Community of Dr. King's dream," says Erin Schneider, acting press secretary for AmeriCorps' Office of Communications and Marketing.
Gaining as Much as You Give
The benefits of volunteering are well documented. Indeed, giving your time to a good cause can, quite literally, be the cure for what ails you: Doctors have begun prescribing "service" (volunteering) for their patients as part of the larger social prescription movement.
"Many partner organizations' projects are focused on maximizing impact with just one day of volunteering."
It's the ultimate win-win. "Service strengthens communities and transforms the lives of the individuals served, and the volunteers who serve. Whether you volunteer on MLK Day of Service, or any day, you can gain just as much as you can give," says Schneider.
"Volunteering provides many benefits to individuals, nonprofits and communities alike. For individuals, volunteering supports a greater sense of purpose, social connection and overall well-being," agrees Katie Stearns, chief program and impact officer at Points of Light, an international volunteer network that includes nearly 80 affiliate cities across the U.S. "The real win happens when everyone who serves [on MLK Day] understands volunteering is an essential action they can take every day, again and again."
What Can You Do in Just One Day?
"Many partner organizations' projects are focused on maximizing impact with just one day of volunteering," says Schneider. Volunteers actually see the fruits of their efforts — from flowers planted at the neighborhood school to meals prepared for the homeless to money collected by a fundraiser.
Schneider notes that the variety of volunteer opportunities available is impressive. Some examples she points to include distributing literacy kits, cleaning up public spaces, participating in community conversations on unity and delivering food to neighbors in need.
Katherine Morales, director of public relations, marketing and communications at Points of Light, says that many of its U.S. affiliates will host MLK Day service opportunities. For example, Jersey Cares is sponsoring an "I Have a Dream" Walk to honor the legacy of King and raise funds for social justice causes.
Other offerings include assembling literacy packages for local kids and virtual "understanding homelessness" workshops. HandsOn Atlanta will host 12 different service projects, including community cleanup, revitalization and gardening.
L.A. Works has adjusted some of their initially planned activities due to the devastating wildfires and will now support displaced families with meal and hygiene kit assembly and more.
"Whether you're planting trees, organizing donations or mentoring youth, the day provides a chance to make an impact and explore what type of service resonates with you," says Schneider.
AmeriCorps makes finding these opportunities easy with its one-stop-shopping resource page. Points of Light also offers a page devoted to MLK Day opportunities.
DIY Volunteering
Perhaps you didn't plan ahead but you still want to be part of this important effort. Does MLK Day of Service encompass informal good deeds — things as simple as taking an older neighbor to the store or bringing donations to the food bank?
"Absolutely! Dr. King said, 'Everybody can be great because anybody can serve,'" says Schneider. That includes individuals performing small acts of kindness or organizing their own projects, she adds. AmeriCorps offers a number of resources for those looking for ideas.
Morales heartily agrees. "Yes, there are many ways to get involved in volunteer service on MLK Day," she says, including the "informal volunteering people may choose to do on their own, such as mowing the lawn for a neighbor or clearing snow from the streets." Points of Light has a DIY projects page for more inspiration.
Better Together
Of course, seemingly intractable problems — homelessness and hunger; racism and climate change; the needs of refugees and immigrants — won't be solved by volunteering for one day. But when folks work together, in large numbers, the miracles happen.
And there's good news on that front: AmeriCorps' recently released Civic Engagement and Volunteering survey reveals that the national volunteering rate has increased by 5.1 percentage points in just two years – a 22% jump — with more than 75 million Americans volunteering in 2023 alone.
"This is the largest expansion of formal volunteering ever recorded and truly showcases that the spirit of volunteerism is on the rise in America," concludes Schneider.
'What Are You Doing for Others?'
The oft-quoted, eloquent King said: "Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'" Indeed, King's own story reflected his lifelong commitment to respond to that challenge through service.
So it's karmically appropriate that MLK Day be dedicated to encouraging Americans to make a difference in their communities and the nation.
Remember, you can always catch the inaugural ceremony and parade somewhere online if you choose to watch them. But you'll never again get the chance to participate in the 2025 Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service.
