COLUMBUS – Folks around Ohio are spending the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday by giving back to their communities.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday closings: All federal, state and local govt. offices closed, most schools canceled, no trash pickup or recycling pickup in Columbus, no mail delivery, downtown Columbus parking meters are free.
Since 1994, MLK Day has been a national day of service to honor the civil rights leader’s message of nonviolence and social justice. Despite having a day off from school or work, it’s a day “on” for volunteers working on projects around the state Stephanie Sparrow Hughes with Hands On Central Ohio, who adds that the holiday is also a chance to understand King’s legacy.
“Some people may know his one famous speech, but it’s an opportunity to learn more about his life and about what he lived for and how he was really devoted to bring people together,” said Sparrow Hughes.
Volunteers with Hands On Central Ohio are painting a mural reflecting the history of the community.
Ohio State University’s Office of Student Life partners with Pay it Forward for their annual service project. Spokesperson Louisa Wruck explains their goal is to send one thousand students to volunteer at over 50 organizations and she says they want students to walk away with a positive experience.
“Especially for first-year students, it’s one of their first opportunities on a big scale to get involved in the community, so it’s pretty exciting that they have that opportunity and that they usually come back with wanting to get more involved,” Hughes said.
Through their service, Hughes says people learn to appreciate the gifts in their own lives.
“That’s one of the messages that I get from volunteers is that ‘I really didn’t realize some of the issues that were going on in the community and I didn’t really appreciate what I have in my own life until I was in service to someone else,’ ” she said.
Hughes explains there are volunteer opportunities year-round, from helping an elderly neighbor to tutoring a child.