Athens MLK Day of Service is an annual celebration in support of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday and commitment to service. In 1994, Congress made the Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday an official day of service. Athens, Georgia is one of the thousands of cities across the United States that decided to make this "A Day On and Not a Day Off."
Call for Service Projects
The Athens MLK Jr. Day of Service Steering Committee is requesting that organizations wishing to be considered as a 2020 Day of Service project site complete the Online Project Application. Full instructions and event details are included on the application. Project applications are due by Friday, November 1 at 5:00 p.m.
Becoming a Sponsor
Please consider becoming an MLK Day of Service sponsor - our goal is to raise $10,000 for 2020. The Athens Land Trust is serving as the fiscal agent for the Athens-wide MLK Day of Service. Your tax deductible donation will help support the kick-off event, cover the cost of t-shirts for volunteers, and provide supplies to our various community improvement projects. If you are interested in sponsoring, please email stacee.farrell@accgov.com or call 706-613-3501.
Help us raise $10,000! Download the Sponsorship Form here.
The MLK Day of Service Kickoff Event will be held at Clarke Central High School on Monday, January 20, 2020 from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. The school is located at 350 S. Milledge Avenue, Athens, GA 30605. The first 300 registered volunteers will receive free t-shirts, and a light breakfast will be served. Participants will hear from several speakers before heading out to their work sites.
Volunteer Registration
Volunteer registration will open in mid-December. If you have any questions about the sign-up process, please email athensgamlkday@gmail.com.
Other MLK Day Events
Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Breakfast Friday, January 17, 2020: 8:00 - 10:00 a.m. Location: Grand Hall at the UGA Tate Center The Freedom Breakfast is an annual partnership between The University of Georgia, Athens-Clarke County Unified Government, and the Clarke County School District. The breakfast brings together approximately 600 individuals from The University of Georgia and Clarke County communities and is also used as a time to acknowledge the diversity achievements and contributions of members of the Athens-Clarke County/UGA community.
"Visions of MLK" Art Exhibition and Saturday Celebration Saturday, January 18, 2020 Location: Lyndon House Arts Center The Lyndon House Arts Center welcomes the community for art exhibitions and a Saturday Celebration honoring the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. Check back for more information.
MLK Ecumenical Service Sunday, January 19, 2020 Location: Mount Pleasant Baptist Church Co-sponsored by the Athens Area Human Relations Commission and the Interfaith Clergy Partnership of Greater Athens. Check back for more information.
5th Annual Athens in Harmony Concert Sunday, January 19, 2020: Doors open at 6:00 p.m. Location: The Foundry This event is a fundraiser for the Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement. Tickets are available at thefoundryathens.com.
MLK Day Parade and Music Fest Monday, January 20, 2020: 3:00 p.m. Location: Downtown Athens, GA The United Group of Artists Music Association presents the Annual Athens MLK Day Parade and Music Fest on Monday, January 20. The theme of the 2020 parade is "Stand With Love, Not Hate. Let No Man Pull You Low Enough to Hate Him." -Martin Luther King, Jr. Participants can check-in at 1 pm in front of Morton Theater. Surrounding counties including Barrow, Jackson, Oconee, Madison and welcome to participate. including schools, organizations, nonprofits, churches, dance teams, mobile vehicles, and various organizations. Register to participate and find more details at this link.