Athens MLK Day of Service

MLK Banner 2016
Project Safe MLK Day 2018
KACCB Daffodils MLK Day
West Broad MLK Day 2018
2019 Kickoff
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."

Volunteer Registration

Volunteer registration is now OPEN! Visit the link below to view a list of project sites and register to be a part of the 2020 Day of Service.

Kickoff Celebration

All volunteers are invited to our Annual MLK Day Kickoff Celebration, held on the morning of the Day of Service. The Kickoff Event will be held at Clarke Central High School on Monday, January 20, 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 around 9:30 a.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.

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.

2020 Athens MLK Day of Service Planning Partners

Athens-Clarke County Unified Government • Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services • Athens-Clarke County Stormwater • Athens Community Council on Aging • Athens Land Trust • Clarke County School District • Hull Firm, LLC • Keep Athens-Clarke County Beautiful • UGA Office of Service-Learning • United Way of Northeast Georgia

2020 Athens MLK Day of Service Sponsors

Thank you to the following local businesses and organizations for supporting this community event:

W&A Engineering • Monsignor Donovan Catholic High School • Athens-Clarke County Mayor • UGA Law School Student Bar Association • Athens Housing Authority • Kroger • Phi Theta Kappa at Athens Technical College • Heyward Allen Toyota • Oconee Rivers Greenway Commission


MLK aerial crop
Athens Area Homeless Shelter MLK Day Volunteers 2019

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: Beloved Community" Art Exhibition and Saturday Celebration                                                                                Saturday, January 18, 2020: 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
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.
 
MLK Ecumenical Service
Sunday, January 19, 2020
Location: Redeemer Presbyterian Church (165 Pulaski Street)
This year’s Ecumenical Services will feature keynote speaker Patricia Barron, Chief Magistrate Judge. Services are free and open to the public. Co-sponsored by the Athens Area Human Relations Council, Inc. and the Interfaith Clergy Partnership of Greater Athens. For more information, call 706-207-9010.

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.