Celebrate MLK Jr. National Day of Service
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is; What are you doing for others?” -MLK Jr.
Today is MLK Day and a National Day of Service. Not only do we celebrate King’s legacy and reflect on his powerful contributions to our nation. We honor his memory by serving our community today and throughout the year. Kingdom Trails share’s Dr. King’s vision and urgency to act through service to others, his example is our call to action. We build trails to connect people and wish to share this community with everyone.
In a 1968 sermon, Dr. King shared “Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”
Service, through volunteering, is a wonderful way to be part of the Kingdom Trails community! It is an opportunity to work alongside our local community members and staff as we cultivate growth within ourselves. These opportunities help contribute to the KT mission and uplift our core values that define KT in our shared community. Throughout the year, Kingdom Trails holds events that rely on volunteer support for success. Alongside events, KT offers two unique volunteer programs that invites everybody and anybody to participate:
- Volunteer Ambassadors:
through engagement and education, KT Ambassadors serve to advise trail users on KT policies to protect our community, landowners and precious natural resources. By utilizing the Ride With Gratitude code of conduct as a standard for a common understanding and respectful behavior, Ambassadors work to encourage a culture of respect while on trail, and play an integral role within the Kingdom Trails culture. Volunteer Ambassadors can serve each weekend
(Friday-Sunday)
throughout the summer season, beginning in June. Visit the volunteer tab on the
KT website to sign up for weekend shifts! You also get a pretty cool shirt ;)
- Volunteer Trail Work Days: through education and comradery, trail work days bring community members and groups together to get a sense of how trails at KT are possible. Utilizing trail building techniques, volunteers work with the KT Trail Crew to either continue work on a new trail, or complete maintenance on an existing trail. From individual community members to groups from around the country, anyone is welcome to participate! Work days are hosted on the last Saturday of each month during the summer season, from 8:30am-12pm. In 2023, these dates are: 04/29, 05/27, 06/24, 07/29, 08/26, 09/30, 10/28 (dates subject to change). Afterwards, the KT staff share in community and thanks with seltzers (and sometimes pizza!) with all volunteers!
Volunteers for events are recruited on a by-needed basis. To add your name to our volunteer mailing list, contact KT at
info@kingdomtrails.org. In 2023, look out for volunteer perks based on the number of hours served at KT! We are so thankful for all who volunteer with us, and we hope these perks speak to the gratitude we have for all of you.
Sources:
The history behind MLK Day, and how you can celebrate it -
https://www.dosomething.org/us/articles/martin-luther-king-jr-day
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service -
https://www.aascu.org/programs/ADP/MLKDay/
MLK Jr. Memorial, DC New Paragraph
