President-elect Barack Obama Issues National Call to Service on MLK Day of Service

President-elect Barack Obama is calling on Americans across the nation to volunteer in the January 19 Martin Luther King Day of Service. The upcoming Martin Luther King Day falls on the day before Obama’s historic inauguration. The President-elect will celebrate King Day along with Vice-President Joe Biden and their families by volunteering in a service project in Washington, D.C. and will be calling on all Americans to join him in ongoing active citzenship. “I will ask for your service and your active citizenship when I am president of the United States,” Obama said.

From the Presidential Inaugural Committee:

"Renewing America’s promise begins with each one of us making a commitment to br ing change to our local communities. On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the day before Inauguration, President-elect Barack Obama is calling upon all Americans to participate in a national day of service, following in the legacy of one of America’s great social justice leaders.

President-elect Obama never asks more of us than he himself is willing to give. He and Vice President-elect Joe Biden will be joining thousands of volunteers in Washington, DC, on January 19 to honor the late Martin Luther King Jr. through service.

The Presidential Inaugural Committee has begun reaching out to all sorts of national service organizations - including faith-based groups, unions, businesses and political groups - asking for their members’ participation. We want to bring together all Americans in shared purpose, to set aside all that divides us and focus on our collective ability to bring change to our communities. Jan uary 19 will be just the beginning of a broader push for Americans to give back throughout the year."

Organizations are invited to host service projects on January 19. Examples include starting a mentoring program, renovating and weatherizing houses, organizing after school programs, beautifying schools and recreation centers, creating safe corridors programs, participating in anti-violence initiatives, preparing and distributing food at homeless shelters, delivering meals to homebound seniors, reading with children about Dr. King, organizing health fairs and legal clinics and performing plays about Dr. King and the Civil Rights movement.

Any individual, family or group interested in volunteering or hosting a January 19 King Day of Service project should egister online at http://www.mlkdayofservice.org