MLK Day of Service - Make it a day on, not a day off!

Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and for many that means a day of service. 

What did you do today to make MLK Day a day on and not a day off?

For many who don't have today off, Saturday was our designated Day of Service. I participated by serving with the Red Cross. 

On Saturday January 17, 2015 the American Red Cross of Greater Kansas City volunteers worked with our partners at KCMO CERT and KCFD to visit homes in the Tri-Blenheim Neighborhood today, installing a total of 52 smoke alarms!! This neighborhood had been identified as a high risk area for home fires. In the ZIP code 64132, we've assisted an average of three families per month needing help because of home fires. Many thanks to those working with us and supporting us in the effort!!

January 5, 2015, ‪#‎RedCross‬ volunteers teamed up with KCMO firefighters and KCMO CERT members to distribute door hangers in the Tri-Blenheim neighborhood…. The hangers advised residents in the neighborhood to call us to make an appointment for us to come back to their home on January 17 to install a free smoke alarm.

Anyone in the greater metropolitan area needing a new smoke alarm to be installed may contact the Red Cross smoke alarm installation team at (816) 841-5242.

Here are pictures from Saturday's event:

Thanks to the Neighborhood Association President (Mr Kennedy) for the opportunity to make a difference, and Research Medical Center (Dr McArthur and staff) for the meeting space!

We hear stories every day of how Smoke Alarms REALLY DO Save Lives!!

Some homes had smoke detectors but as you can see they were out dated. Our goal was to replace those old smoke alarms with new 10 year smoke alarms.

Before we headed out in to the neighborhood we needed to meet up for some instructions and supplies: 

Coffee and Donuts were provided to volunteers prior to and upon return from the field.

We broke up in to teams and headed out to the homes that responded to the January 5th survey. Here's some pics of the team I went out with:

The group I tagged along with included one Red Cross Staff, one Red Cross volunteer (me! - not pictured) and 2 CERT volunteers.

Here are a few of the other teams:

Here are some of the archaic smoke alarms we ran across while out installing new ones: 

Overall, it was a great day! Saturday's ‪#‎FireSafety‬ event by the numbers:

10 American Red Cross of Greater Kansas City Volunteers + 5 Staff Members, with 5 KCMO CERT Volunteers and 5 KCFD Fire Fighters visited 24 homes and installed 52 Smoke Alarms. Great job everyone!!! 

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service

What is the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service?

All government agencies and many private businesses will be closed this Monday to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., but don’t let the appeal of a three-day weekend overshadow the purpose of the 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 to serve their neighbors and communities.

Established as a federal holiday in 1983, MLK Day was designated a National Day of Service by Congress in 1994. Across the country, volunteer groups turn Monday into “a day on, not a day off” by building community gardens, distributing food, sprucing up schools, and helping the homeless.


Plan

MLK Day is a chance to start the year off right by making an impact in your community. Here are some Toolkits to help you plan for the Day of Service.

Serve

Join the hundreds of thousands of people who serve on MLK Day and throughout the year. Find a volunteer opportunity in your community by searching volunteer websites such as United We Serve, Do One Thing  and Bright Impact to name a few. You may also register your own project so that volunteers can find it.

Learn

Find free lesson plans that teach Dr. King’s legacy of service for grades K-8.

Impact




What are your plans for MLK Day? Share your plans and share your project’s impact after MLK Day. You can share your story on Serve.gov, on the MLKDay Facebook page, or by sending an email to MLKDay@cns.gov. Your stories will help highlight the many ways Americans are honoring Dr. King through service, improving lives, and making a difference in our communities.

If you’re interested in volunteering but don’t know where to begin, websites like volunteermatch.org, idealist.org, and allforgood.org can connect you with opportunities in your area. 

I will be working on Monday - the company I work for is not one of the many that get to take the day off - but that doesn't mean I won't be serving. I will be doing my part on Saturday with the Red Cross. We will be teaming up with the Kansas City Fire Department and KCMO CERT teams to install smoke detectors in a KC neighborhood. I will post about that next week after the event has been completed.  Enjoy the weekend and don't forget to serve!

"Blue Light Week"

There has been quite a bit of negative publicity about law enforcement over the past several months. While there are bad apples in every profession, there also many good folks who go to work everyday with good intentions. "Blue Light Week" was established to show support to Law Enforcement for what they do day in and day out to protect and serve the communities they work in as well as to honor those that gave the ultimate sacrifice. "Blue Light Week" is a national campaign. With the flip of a switch citizens can be a part of the campaign and show support for law enforcement.

For more information about the event visit the Facebook event page here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/705275326247302/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming.





A BLUE LIGHT

Place a light in your window, make sure it is blue
Reminding friends, an officer gave a life for you
Give light to their remembrance, the color is sad
To family left by officers who knew them as Dad
It isn’t the money, most definitely not the hours
They aren’t comic book hero’s with unnatural powers
They’re simply human beings who place life on the line
Place a blue light in your window, let their memory shine!

by Gene Rooney November 29th, 2007

To all my friends in blue, I am thinking of you. Thank you for your service!  Be safe!