Where to Volunteer for MLK Day

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?'"

Each year, Americans across the country answer that question by coming together on the King Holiday to serve their neighbors and communities.

The MLK Day of Service is a part of United We Serve, the President'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.

Volunteer At The First Baptist Church In Venice! 

• Join neighbors, family and friends and be part of the fun on the National Day of Service commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King and celebrating President Obama's second inauguration! On January, 19th help your community by cleaning up The First Baptist Church of Venice! This will be an excellent way to meet new people, get involved in a great organization and help our neighbors!

Westminster WE Garden Workday

• WE Garden will host a day of service inviting parents, teachers, community activists to join us in a day of school gardening. We will plant, harvest, weed and water along with the school's children. All are welcome. Bring hats and gloves if possible. WE Garden will provide the snacks.

Volunteer With Send Me A Penny Foundation On Venice Beach!

• Join Americans across the country during the National Day of Service! President Obama has called on us to honor Martin Luther King Jr. and celebrate his second inauguration with community service. Join us in this action as we feed the homeless on Venice Beach with the Send Me A Penny Foundation. When: January 19th (2 Shifts) 10-1pm and 1pm-4pm Where: 1011 Ocean Front Walk, Venice.

• Additional Goods Needed for Donation: Personal Hygiene products, New- Socks and Underwear, Clothing, Sweatshirts, Sleeping Bags, Backpacks and Water. Send Me A Penny: Founder Anthony Perez: I met a guy named David who was homeless in Venice. He found my cell phone and returned it so I gave him a job watering my neighbors yard who was too old to do it herself. It wasn't much but to David it was something. These reciprocal acts of kindness led Anthony to start Send Me a Penny. Join your neighbors and contribute to your community.

Volunteer With Heal The Bay At Venice Beach

• The sunny beaches of the the westide of L.A. is a key part of the city's identity and culture. On this National Day of Service, we need people like you and your family, friends or associates to get involved to help clean up the beach improving the quality of the Santa Monica Bay and our beaches and neighborhoods.

• Bring cash if you plan to park in the lot (there is no discounted parking) or come early to find street parking. Volunteers must be 13 years old OR be accompanied by an adult. Bags and gloves will be provided. However, to help cut down on the number of supplies we use for our cleanups, please bring your own reusable garden gloves and bucket or reuse a bag from home. We also encourage you to carry reusable water bottles. Water is available at all cleanups. If you are bringing a group of 10 or more, do let us know. All cleanup volunteers must have a signed waiver form. The cleanup will begin at 10 a.m. Note: NBS is a rain or shine event. Cleanups are only cancelled for lightening or thunderstorms due to risk. We will still hold the cleanup in light and steady rain.

 Beach Clean-up

• Let's clean up the beach between Washington Blvd pier and the Main channel in Marina del Rey. We will meet by the beach-walk next to the Terrace Cafe located at 1 Washington Blvd. Marina Del Rey 90292 Metered parking is available on the street and the beach parking lot is right there as well. A few years ago we had over 80 people from all over Los Angeles helping. I hope to see the same familiar faces as well as new folks interested in spending the day helping out. 

• Mostly what we will find is cigarette butts that people don't realize end up in the ocean and then are washed ashore and mix with the sand. There is a bird sanctuary on this beach and the cigarette butts hurt the birds that live there. They mistake the cigarrette butts for food and often die from complications. I will bring some trashbags, snacks and water bottles but if you can bring your own that will be fantastic. You may also want to bring a sweatshirt (it can be a bit cold by the ocean in the morning and windy in the afternoon) and a pair of thin gloves for yoursel