National Day of Service: How to Get Involved

Giving back furthers Dr. King’s legacy.

Giving Back - The National Day of Service on Jan. 19 honors the legacy of civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by encouraging Americans to volunteer in their communities. Keep reading to find out ways to get involved in your own backyard and visit the official National Day of Service website to sign up for an event near you. – Britt Middleton (photo: 2013pic.org)

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Giving Back - The National Day of Service on Jan. 19 honors the legacy of civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by encouraging Americans to volunteer in their communities. Keep reading to find out ways to get involved in your own backyard and visit the official National Day of Service website to sign up for an event near you. – Britt Middleton (photo: 2013pic.org)

Photo By photo: 2013pic.org

Health - Try volunteering at your local food bank or organizing a food drive in your neighborhood. National Day of Service partner Feeding America, a nationwide network of over 200 local food banks, is one of many organizations taking part on Jan. 19. (Photo: Katherine Frey/The Washington Post)

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Health - Try volunteering at your local food bank or organizing a food drive in your neighborhood. National Day of Service partner Feeding America, a nationwide network of over 200 local food banks, is one of many organizations taking part on Jan. 19. (Photo: Katherine Frey/The Washington Post)

Meet the Browns\r - Newlyweds Monica and hubby Shannon Brown of the L.A. Lakers serve meals to families at the kick-off for Feeding America's Hunger Action Month with 300 lunches provided by the Cheesecake Factory at Maywood Parks and Recreation Center in Maywood, California. (Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images via Feeding America)

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Education - Education Volunteering at an after-school program or organizing a garage sale to help pay for new textbooks or school supplies can make a real difference in your community’s schools. Click here to learn more about organizing an event. (Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images

Community Resilience - Reaching out to your local homeless shelters, community gardens and other organizations can help bring the neighborhood back together following natural disasters or tragedies. (Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

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Community Resilience - Reaching out to your local homeless shelters, community gardens and other organizations can help bring the neighborhood back together following natural disasters or tragedies. (Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Education - Following in the footsteps of Dr. King can also include getting involved with your church group for service projects like tutoring or providing home repairs in your neighborhood. National Day of Service partner Catholic Volunteer Network is one of many groups getting involved. (Photo: Lauren Casselberry/The Jersey Journal /Landov)

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Education - Following in the footsteps of Dr. King can also include getting involved with your church group for service projects like tutoring or providing home repairs in your neighborhood. National Day of Service partner Catholic Volunteer Network is one of many groups getting involved. (Photo: Lauren Casselberry/The Jersey Journal /Landov)

Photo By Photo: Lauren Casselberry/The Jersey Journal /Landov

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Economic Development - Investing in small businesses and green energy in your town helps communities thrive. Operation Hope has donated more than $1.5 billion to help America’s most vulnerable communities create thousands of homeowners, small business owners and entrepreneurs. Click here to get involved.  (Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

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Economic Development - Investing in small businesses and green energy in your town helps communities thrive. Operation Hope has donated more than $1.5 billion to help America’s most vulnerable communities create thousands of homeowners, small business owners and entrepreneurs. Click here to get involved.  (Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Veterans and Military Families - For the men and women who serve our country each day, try volunteering at a veterans’ hospital or at a thrift shop that supports job training programs for returning vets. (Photo: John Moore/Getty Images)

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Veterans and Military Families - For the men and women who serve our country each day, try volunteering at a veterans’ hospital or at a thrift shop that supports job training programs for returning vets. (Photo: John Moore/Getty Images)

Environment - Mother Earth needs love, too. Give back to the planet by volunteering to help clean up your local beach or park. (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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Environment - Mother Earth needs love, too. Give back to the planet by volunteering to help clean up your local beach or park. (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Holiday Charities: Where to Give This Season - The holidays can be a time of mass consumerism. But in the spirit of the season, take a moment to help those in need. BET.com offers a list of organizations that are giving back in good cheer. — Dorkys Ramos (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

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Volunteering in Washington D.C. - If you will be in Washington on Jan. 19, there a number of events happening at the Memorial Mall beginning at 9:30 a.m. ET. Click here for more information. (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Check in for Service - Are you a fan of Foursquare? You can unlock a special badge on Jan. 19 for checking in to a National Day of Service event in your town. Click here to learn how. (Photo: Fousquare)

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Check in for Service - Are you a fan of Foursquare? You can unlock a special badge on Jan. 19 for checking in to a National Day of Service event in your town. Click here to learn how. (Photo: Fousquare)

Photo By Photo: Fousquare