Howard County Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service 2025

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball, the Office of Human Rights and Equity (OHRE) and the Howard County Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission invite you to join us at the Harriet Tubman Cultural Center for a Day of Service on Sunday January 12, and engage in meaningful service opportunities, education and projects that embody Dr. King's dedication to equality and social justice.

Activities:

Food Drive (multiple offsite locations)

The Howard County MLK Holiday Commission will be collecting non-perishable groceries, baby supplies and personal care items from 12:30-2:30p.m. at several area stores. Visit https://www.howardcountymd.gov/OHRE-mlk for the most up-to-date listing of participating stores.

Vaccine Clinic
Get your COVID and/or flu vaccine with the Howard County Health Department! Walk-in only.

Community Service Corner
Bring a donation of canned goods, dry goods, sanitary napkins, baby goods, school supplies, coats, etc. These items will be collected throughout the day and be distributed by our partners Columbia Community Care and Grassroots.

Kits to Heart
Create two craft activities – Care Bear Towels and Decorative Handwritten Letters-which will be included in cancer care kits and distributed to patients in Howard County. Students who participate in this activity are eligible for community service hours.

MLK Reflection Room
View excerpts of the March on Washington, the speeches “What Is Your Life’s Blueprint?” and “The Three Evils of Society,” and selections from the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) Freedom Singers.

Voter Registration Drive
Register to vote with volunteers from the Howard County Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission and the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Howard County.

Book Display
Peruse the book display provided by Howard County Library System (HCLS), featuring books about Dr. King including: My Daddy, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Martin Luther King III, When Martin Luther King, Jr., Wore Roller Skates by Mark Andrew Weakland, Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Doreen Rappaport, A Place to Land: Martin Luther King, Jr. and The Speech That Inspired a Nation by Barry Wittenstein, Feliz Cumpleanos, Martin Luther King by Jean Marzollo, and other works.

Read-In
Children and youth can enjoy readings of children's books featured in the HCLS Book Display in the Harriet Tubman Library.

Caring Craft Corner
Youth will be able to create bracelets, cards, coloring sheets, and other craft items that will support others in their community.

Foster Caregiver Self-Care Packs
Join Building Families for Children and create self-care packs for families providing family stability services. The packs will include affirmation cards, tea, lotion, candles as a form of gratitude for the amazing support they are providing families and children.

HopeWorks Teen Workshop: “I Can, I Will” Zine Making Workshop (3-4p.m ONLY)

Teens (13-18) are invited to participate in a facilitated session where they will create Zines reflecting on non-violence. Registration link: https://MLK-2025-Zines.eventbrite.com

The Office of Human Rights and Equity strives to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. To be respectful of those with allergies and environmental sensitivities, we ask that you please refrain from wearing strong fragrances. To request an accommodation or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact [email protected] . Accommodations requested less than five business days before the event are not guaranteed, though every effort will be taken to provide said accommodation.

Host or Publisher Howard County AAPI Commission