MLK Day: Reflecting On What It Means To Celebrate
"Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'"
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
While Black and African American children make up 31% of the total child population in Maryland, they comprise 58% of children in Maryland’s child welfare system (Child Trends, 2015). Once in the system, Black children and youth spend more time in care, experience more frequent changes in placement, and are less likely than their white counterparts to achieve permanency. At Maryland CASA we recognize the disproportionate number and disparate outcomes of children and youth of color in the child welfare system, and we remember heroes like Martin Luther King who fought for the rights and freedom of Black individuals and communities.
As we support marginalized children, our Court Appointed Special Advocates encourage them to adhere to the teachings of Martin Luther King:
To dare to dream big dreams, to love deeply- love always wins, to see their community and the color of their skin as beautiful, to push on and preserve through hardship, to work hard at every endeavor, to serve others and forgive, and to have faith.
We have dreams for the children we serve:
We dream that all children are safe and never have to suffer abuse or neglect.
We dream that children who have never experienced a place of safety and security always find their way to one.
We dream that foster children will no longer be judged for their situations but be supported as they take their challenges and turn them into stories that will spark the flame of conquering in others.
We dream that our children know they are wanted, worthy, and loved.
What dreams do you have for the children we serve?
Get Involved! Check out the various MLK day volunteer opportunities available throughout Maryland.
Anne Arundel County
Create kits for those in need
When: Jan 16, 2023, 1pm-3pm
Where: 273 Hilltop Lane Annapolis, MD 21403
What: UWCM - Volunteers will be assembling veteran care kits, toiletry kits, and mental health kits for kids with United Way of Central Maryland.
Help provide food and clothing
When: Jan 16, 2023, 9am- 12pm
Where: 5345 Deale Churchton Rd, Churchton, MD 20733
What: Franklin UM Food Pantry - Work to provide food and clothing to people in need in the South County area!
Baltimore City
All of the following Baltimore City volunteer opportunities can be easily accessed and signed up for by using this link: https://signup.com/go/KdZkEMS
Elev8 Baltimore
When: January 20th, 10:00 am-12:00 pm
Where: 1900 Edgewood St. Baltimore, MD 21216 (Edgewood Elementary School)
What: Volunteers are needed to paint the student bathroom stalls painted and embellished with positive affirmations to increase student feelings of social emotional wellness.
Meals on Wheels of Central MD
When: January 20th, 8:00 am-12:00 pm
Where: 515 S. Haven Street, Baltimore, MD 21224
What: Volunteers are needed for meal packing; an active and engaging assembly-line type volunteer experience either preparing our meals in our kitchen or packing the meals to get delivered to our clients.
Parking: Parking lot on side of building
Hampden Elementary/Middle School & Friends of Hampden
When: January 20th, 9:00 am- 1:00 pm
Where: 3608 Chestnut Ave. Baltimore, MD 21211
What: Volunteers are needed to paint an indoor mural, paint a classroom, help assembling furniture for outdoor cafeteria.
Parking: Onsite parking
Helping Up Mission
When: January 20th, 9:00 am-1:00 pm
Where: 1216 E. Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21202
What: They are in need of volunteers (WOMEN ONLY) to sort their gifts in inventory.
Parking: Secured, underground parking garage
Maryland Food Bank
When: January 20th, 9:00 am-11:30 am
Where: 2200 Halethorpe Farms Rd., Baltimore, MD
What: Volunteers are needed in their warehouse to help pack food for families impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. Volunteers must be at least 13 years old.
Parking lot available at the warehouse.
Franciscan Center
When: January 20th, 9:30 am-1:15 pm
Where: 101 W 23rd Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218
What: Volunteers will plate and serve meal, welcome guest, maintain dining room, assist guest that needs help and engage in conversation.
Parking: Metered parking $2.00 for 4 hours
Friends of Wyman Park Dell
When: January 20th,10:00 am-12:00 pm
Where: W 29th Street and Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218 (Wyman Park Dell Playground)
What: Volunteers are needed to pick up litter around the park.
Parking: Street parking surrounds the park
Govans Ecumenical Development Corporation (GEDCO)
When: January 20th, 10:00 am-12:00 pm
Where: Harford House-1517 East North Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21213
What: We would like volunteers to conduct BINGO games at one of our homelessservices facilities, Harford House.
Parking: Street parking available.
The Family Recovery Program, Inc.
When: January 20th, 10:00 am-1:00 pm or 1:00 pm-3:00 pm
Where: Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Building at Sage Center. 1209 N. Rose Street, Baltimore, MD 21213
What: Volunteers are needed to paint the office, doors, door frames and learning center.
Thread
When: January 20th, 1:00 pm-3:30 pm
Where: 1400 Orleans St, Baltimore, MD 21231
What: Volunteers are needed to pick up trash around Dunbar High School.
Parking: Street parking, but you can also walk there from the Hopkins East Baltimore campus.
Village Learning Place
When: January 20th, 1:00 pm-5:00 pm
Where: 2521 St. Paul Street Baltimore MD 21218
What: Volunteers are needed to help do a project with our LINK students after school, help clean and organize the library.
Parking: there is a lot that can be used across the street at 2510 St. Paul Street
Baltimore County
Help pack and distribute meals
When: January 16, 12pm-2pm
Where: 7 W. Aylesbury Rd., Timonium, MD 21093
What: Assistance Center of Towson Churches (ACTC)- Help us to fill 500 grocery bags and transport them to the Assistance Center for distribution. You can choose from many different roles like packing, loading, re-stocking, and transport.
Caroline County
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Unity March & Program
When: Monday, January 16th
Where: Program begins at Lockerman Middle School, 410 Lockerman Street, Denton
What: In celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the Lockerman School Association will be hosting the 11th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Unity March. Participants will meet at 9am at Lockerman Middle School in Denton.
The march will take place at 10am and conclude at the Caroline County Courthouse on Market Street. Following the march and speech, bagged lunches will be provided. For more information, contact Wanda Molock at 410-829-7338 or Janet Fountain at 410-829-2844.
Frederick County/ Carroll County
Help sort and stock food and clothing
When: Jan 16, 2023, 9-11am
Where: 419 W South Street, Frederick MD, 21701
What: Frederick Rescue Mission - Volunteers will assist by helping sort and stock food in the Distribution Center and clothing in Rescue Treasure!
Howard County
When: January 16th, 1:00-3:00 pm
Where: 8000 Harriet Tubman Ln. Columbia, MD 21044
What: We will be preparing the farm for the winter by helping clean gardens, working in the woods and preparing the mushroom gardens.
When: January 16th, 11:00 am-1:00 pm
Where: 10750 Little Patuxent Parkway Columbia, MD 21046
What: Volunteers will prep items and pack grocery orders for 30 family deliveries.
Lower Shore (Wicomico, Somerset, & Worcester Counties)
When: January 16th, 10:00 am-1:00 PM
Where: 803 N. Salisbury Blvd. Suite 2100 Salisbury, MD 21801
What: This project will include several efforts to creatively encourage educators at North Salisbury as part of the county wide initiative launched by #KindSBY. We will make the simple items to be delivered later in the week.
Montgomery County
When: January 16th, 8:00 am-2:00 pm
Where: 12900 Cloverleaf Center Drive Suite A Germantown, MD 20874
What: We will host a distribution center to “Feed the Children” for 400 families in Germantown. This will require our provision of adults and teens who are willing to brave the elements that day to stage and distribute goods for a drive-through pick up boxes of sustainable food, hygiene products, and additional products (toys/produce—items contributed by local business owners).
When: January 16th, 10:00am-11:00 am, 11:00 am-12:00 pm
Where: 8525 Fenton Street Silver Spring, MD 20910
What: Prepare transition baskets for men's shelter, prepare transition baskets for men's shelter Unity, assemble and frame puzzles for Sunrise Senior Living, assemble care baskets for battered women's shelter, make pillows for Charter House Residents.
Drop off hours: January 17 - 20: 9 AM - 5 PM, January 21: 11 AM - 4 PM
Where:12900 Middlebrook Road Germantown, MD 20874
What: Make good use of magazines you have at home and repurpose them into coasters.
GB Youth Media For middle and high school students only*
When: January 16th, 2:00 pm-6:00 pm
Where: 900 Wayne Ave Level B - (lower level) Level B/Media Arts, Silver Spring, MD 20910
What: Creating a youth mural and various activities related to MLK day.
Metropolitan Ballet Theatre (General Admission: $12 Advance / $15 Day of Event
Youth (ages 10 & under): $8
When: January 16th 11:00am & 1:00 pm
Where: 311 Kent Square RoadGaithersburg, MD 20878
What: The professional dance staff presents the world premiere of Day of Service, honoring Martin Luther King Jr. and the National Day of Service Program. An original work created just for this day. Children & families will learn the value of volunteerism and helping all of those around us.
PG County
When: January 16th, 10:00 am- 1:00 pm
Where: 311 Laurel Avenue Laurel, MD 20707
What: Volunteers will participate in either restocking the food pantry or repainting the lobby at Laurel Advocacy and Referral.