TheBurg

14 | theburgnews.com | 01.20 L ooking at our calendars can be overwhelming. Work schedules and appointments fill up the little boxes as quickly as they are checked off. But every so often, we come across a holiday, a day off from work or school. is month it's Martin Luther King Jr. Day, but, for thousands of people statewide, it's no day off. For more than 10 years, the Central Pennsylvania MLK Day of Service committee has been providing families and groups with a way to invest in their communities for a "day on instead of a day off," said Mike Walsh, co-founder of the committee. is year, the theme is environmental justice, the year coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Service activities and informational booths will feature ways to care for the environment, while encouraging thought about the inequality in environmental protection that vulnerable populations face. "How we treat our place affects how we treat each other," said Chad Frey, a committee member. Frey explained how, often, waste management sites or other pollution-producing plants are placed in communities of color—neighborhoods that don't always have the option to voice opposition. e education will hopefully cause people to think, Day oFF, Day on is year, MLK Day of Service focuses on environmental justice. | bY mADDIe conLeY "How can I lend my voice when people in the community are making decisions that may adversely impact my neighborhood?" Walsh said. e main hub of activity will take place at Commonwealth Charter Academy in Harrisburg. Here, 300 to 500 volunteers will help pack food for Meals on Wheels, write letters to military personnel and pediatric patients at Penn State Medical Center and donate blood to the Central PA Blood Bank, said board member Eileen Jacobs. In keeping with the theme, partners like the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the state Department of Environmental Protection will provide activities such as building bluebird boxes and offering information on composting and planting in an urban setting. "Even if you don't have a backyard with soil, you can still grow in pots," Walsh said. ere will also be a table for visitors to interact with and learn about cultures from around the world, as well as a number of minority-owned businesses to check out, Jacobs said. "It's been incredible to see people come together from all parts of the community," Walsh said. Service projects outside of CCA may involve volunteering with nonprofit community groups, such as Friends of Midtown, visiting a local nursing home Stories on environmental topics are proudly sponsored by LCSWMA. or helping at the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. While the holiday may only come around once each year, Walsh sees this as inciting yearlong engagement. "People have learned about organizations they didn't know existed," he said. "King Day is a start. It's a significant way to engage people, and Dr. King's message resonates with everyone." For Frey, the day is helping to further King's dream of "the beloved community" right here in Harrisburg. It's a small piece of a large task, but it is helping diversity flourish in a tangible way. "We need to try to keep hammering away in our own little pockets," he said. "I'm hopeful for this year." e Central Pennsylvania MLK Day of Service is on Jan. 20. Activities at Commonwealth Charter Academy, 1 Innovation Way, Harrisburg, run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information about all projects, visit www.centralpamlkday.org.

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