This year, the only federal holiday formally established as a national day of service  — Martin Luther King Jr. Day  — is on January 17. Want to roll up your sleeves in the spirit of the renowned civil rights leader?  Here are some ways to give back to the community over the long holiday weekend.

So Others Might Eat needs volunteers to sign up for shifts to handle meal preparation, indoor breakfast distribution and donation organization. Indoor breakfast distribution involves client interaction. Interested volunteers can sign up for slots here for shifts this weekend and throughout the year.

Casey Trees needs volunteers to help prune and mulch vulnerable young trees at the Adas Israel Cemetery. The event will celebrate not only Martin Luther King Jr. Day, but also Tu BiShvat, the Jewish “New Year of the Trees.” Volunteers can learn more and register here.

Potomac Conservancy is hosting several trash clean-ups on January 15. Volunteers are still needed for clean-ups at Alexandria’s Four Mile Run at Daingerfield Island, Arlington’s Roaches Run and McLean’s Turkey Run Park. Sign up for an available volunteer slot here.

The National Park Service will host a Potomac River shoreline clean-up and invasive species removal project on January 17 at Alexandria’s Belle Haven Park. Volunteers can sign up here.

Friends of Mount Vernon Trail need help with invasive English ivy removal, litter pick-up, and tree trimming near Alexandria’s Marina Towers. More information can be found here.

Catholic Charities’ SHARE Food Network needs volunteers on January 17 to organize and package groceries to either be freely distributed or sold at a discount to local families without secure food access. Sign up here.
Catholic Charities’ January food distribution has been canceled. The next volunteer opportunity is Feb. 18. Sign up here.

Anacostia Riverkeeper and the Pope Branch Park Restoration Alliance needs volunteers to help clean up the park on January 17. Sign up, fill out a digital waiver, and learn more here.

Thrive DC needs volunteers on several days leading up to Martin Luther King Jr. Day to help with distribution of breakfast, lunch, winter coats, and groceries. They also need volunteers to sign up for available re-entry shifts, during which they will help clients with job applications, as well as administrative shifts. If interested, sign up for a required volunteer orientation and a shift here.

Rock Creek Conservancy has over a dozen events scheduled to remove invasive species and remove litter throughout the national park. Sign up in advance for a shift here.

Donation opportunities

Not feeling comfortable doing in-person activities? We hear you. While some of the aforementioned longer-term commitment volunteer opportunities can be done from home, consider reaching out to nonprofits with missions you admire and let them know about your interest and skill set. Otherwise, here are some options for donations needed in the community, as well as some activities you can do from home. 

The Humane Rescue Alliance needs supplies to restock the shelves of the pet pantry program, which gives D.C. residents access to free nutritious food and treats for their dogs and cats. You can see how to package and donate food here, and learn more about other at-home volunteer projects to benefit the organization here.

So Others Might Eat accepts toiletry kits, lunch bags and sandwiches that can be prepared at home and dropped off at their O Street NW dining room. Information about the items best suited for SOME clients found here.

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Washington, D.C. accepts pre-made meal kits for families of children returning home from the hospital, as well as pre-made snack bags, toiletry kits and activity bags for families during a child’s hospital stay.

Horton’s Kids — which provides academic, social-emotional development, and basic needs support to Ward 8 children — needs healthy food donations for its emergency pantry. The nonprofit has an Amazon wish list of the items needed.

Recurring volunteer opportunities

Numerous nonprofits told DCist/WAMU that they can’t accommodate or otherwise don’t schedule sporadic, one-off volunteerism. However, some organizations in the D.C. area suggested they could still use support from volunteers who can make a longer commitment.

The Ethiopian Community Development Council’s local branch needs ongoing help setting up apartments for newly arrived Afghan refugees. Potential volunteer groups would need to collect home goods, like simple home decor, rugs, cooking supplies, utensils, bath towels, couches and dressers, and coordinate pick-up and transportation. Interested in arranging a group? Email volunteer@ecdcus.org for more information.

DC PAWS Rescue needs volunteers to foster animals in their homes. Not looking for that kind of a commitment? Consider organizing a collection drive to gather items that community members want to donate for local animal shelters but don’t have the transportation to do so. Shelters could especially use unopened puppy or kitten food. The nonprofit also needs social media, fundraising, grant writing, and web design assistance.

This post has been updated to reflect that Monday’s SHARE event has been canceled.