Volunteers prepare and deliver emergency kits to seniors in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
(Washington, DC) Mayor Anthony A. Williams delivered disaster preparedness kits to seniors yesterday as part of a service project honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
"I believe serving alongside your neighbors is the most honorable way to commemorate the legacy of a great man who dedicated his life to service," Mayor Williams said. "As we honor Dr. King together through service, let us remember his words: 'Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve.'"
Over 70 District residents assembled and delivered 200 disaster preparedness kits for seniors at the Brookland Manor housing complex in Ward 5. Volunteers included students from Hyde Leadership Charter School, Howard University, and George Mason University. AmeriCorps members from the American Red Cross educated the group on emergency preparedness, as did Barbara Childs-Pair, Acting Director of the Emergency Management Agency (EMA). Special guests included Darrell Green, a former Redskins player and chair of the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation, and April York, DC Youth Mayor. Commissioners and staff from the DC Commission on National and Community Service also participated.
The emergency preparedness kits included a flashlight, batteries, canned goods, AM radio, poncho, and whistle. The kits also included information on Citizen Corps (link to our Citizen Corps section) and EMA's Family Preparedness Guide.
The project, organized by Service for Peace, was one of dozens of projects created across the city for the MLK Holiday of Service. Over 1,200 District residents spent the federal holiday volunteering in the community to honor the life and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King. Hundreds of volunteers, including AmeriCorps*NCCC and students from George Washington University, helped paint building, hallways, and murals at Benning Terrace housing complex in Ward 7.
About DC-CNCS
The mission of the DC Commission on National and Community Service (DC-CNCS) is to strengthen and promote the spirit of service in the District of Columbia through partnerships, national service and volunteerism. The Commission administers AmeriCorps and Learn and Serve programs in the District and facilitates collaboration among all national service programs. Under the DC Citizen Corps initiative, DC-CNCS provides citizens with volunteer opportunities to help their communities prepare for and respond to emergencies. DC-CNCS also leads Emergency Support Function (ESF) #15 Donations and Volunteer Management in the District's Emergency Response Plan. Other initiatives to promote civic engagement include the monthly Mayor's Community Service Award, National Youth Service Day, and the DC Service Conference.