Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service: Every Day We Serve

Every January, on the third Monday of the month, we come together to recognize and reflect on the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Nearly 10 years after the day became a federal holiday, in 1994, it was designated as not just a holiday, but as a Day of Service.

So, on this extraordinary day, we’re celebrating some of the extraordinary acts of service we perform year-round.

Because we’re all Americans.

When Hurricane Maria decimated Puerto Rico, New Yorkers stepped up to the plate. DC 37, the city’s largest municipal employee union, organized a relief effort and a team of our own spent 10 days in the hurricane-ravaged country. Our five man crew—Milton Velez, Angel Carballo, Hector Adorno, Richard Morantus, and Dave Thomas—slept on cots in makeshift headquarters set up within Roberto Clemente Stadium. They spent their days setting up a water filtration system, clearing up debris-filled roads, delivering food and water to an orphanage, and helping medical staff distribute medication. With a heart for service and their unique expertise, they did the vital work of trying to get the still struggling island back on its feet.

Because every child deserves a visit from Santa.

Every holiday season draws our attention to those less fortunate and this year was no exception. We are bigger than just NYC—our offices in the city and throughout the watershed organized toy drives, gathering presents and gift cards for local children in need. The NYC office alone collected 611 gifts for the Coalition for the Homeless, making sure that our city’s most vulnerable kids had a present for Christmas.

The year is filled with countless opportunities for service—don’t limit your efforts to just one day. Want to find more ways to get involved? Visit New York Cares and sign up to be a volunteer.