About us

Board of Directors

Partner Agencies

Calendar of Events

Staff

En Español

Employment

Press releases  

2008 Annual Report 

Contact Us

 

More than 150 Volusia and Flagler County Volunteers mark the MLK Holiday as a Day On, not a Day Off

The King Day of Service-Building on the Dream

January 19, 2009

“Everyone has the power of greatness. Not for fame, but for greatness.

Because greatness is determined by service.”

--Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

    More than 150 community volunteers of all ages celebrated the legacy, the visions and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and our President-Elect Obama’s call to service on Monday by marking Martin Luther King Day a “day on, not a day off.”

“The King Day of Service-Building on the Dream was truly inspiring; seeing everyone come together for a common goal of service and helping out our neighbors,” said Laura Zublionis, Volunteer Center Director for the United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties, co-coordinators of our local service events. “I met a future Habitat homeowner who said her daughter has never lived in a house before and as the walls were going up this morning, she was planning out her room. Dr. King dedicated his life to service, social justice and helping people advance their communities by becoming socially conscious and joining together to tackle tough issues. MLK Day and projects such as these are a perfect opportunity for us to reignite Dr. King’s legacy and continue to improve our communities.”

    Joanna Folsom, Director of Programs for Flagler Habitat for Humanity added, “Just one word describes the day-amazing. I am amazed by the turn out, both from local individual and corporations, and to see what was accomplished by the 65 volunteers who decided to work with us today; it is phenomenal.”

    “Our construction manager is usually complaining to me that he doesn’t have enough volunteers and today he had too many. Thankfully we were able to find tasks for everyone who showed us. This was incredible,” said Deborah Custer, Coordinator for Southwest Volusia Habitat for Humanity. “People came out today who electricians and contractors and the best part of all is that many will continue to volunteer with Habitat in the future.

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR KING DAY OF SERVICE PARTNERS:

Flagler Habitat for Humanity, Halifax Habitat for Humanity, Southwest Volusia Habitat for Humanity, The ARC of Volusia, SuperTarget in Palm Coast, Shepherd of the Coast Lutheran Church Youth Group in Palm Coast, International Leadership Training Program, Best Buy in Daytona Beach and Sanford, Kiwanis Club of Flagler County, Ormond Beach Presbyterian Church, Seabreeze Students for Habitat, Martin Luther King Jr. Coalition of Flagler County Inc., Daytona Beach Chapter of The Links, Vystar Credit Union, First Baptist Church of Orange City, Orange City United Methodist, St. Anne’s Catholic Church, Hammock Dunes, Pine Ridge Fellowship and the many more individual community volunteers who stepped out to serve.

 

The Projects:  (click on pic for larger file)
 

	Flagler Habitat for Humanity: Volunteers laid out sod at three home sites, two in Bunnell and one in Palm Coast. Interior painting at one site in Palm Coast. All are future homes for three single mothers in Flagler County.
	Halifax Habitat for Humanity: Volunteers built and raised the walls for a home for a single mother in Daytona Beach; painted the exterior of a home for single mother and her two children in Ormond Beach; and painted “larger than life” pictures on the store front windows of the Home Store in Daytona Beach to draw more attention to the store and increase the number of people to come in as customers, volunteers and donors.
	Southwest Volusia Habitat for Humanity: Volunteers worked the roof of a home for a single mother with 2 children; the interior framing of a home for a family with a baby; and general clean-up and foundation preparations for a home for a single mother with 4 sons.
	The ARC of Volusia: Volunteers painted the interior and exterior of the Arc of Volusia's Daytona Beach and DeLand Vocational Centers. Approximately 100 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities along with the staff and visitors at each center will benefit from the fresh clean paint on the walls.

These local projects are just a handful of the thousands of activities around the nation that are organizing to honor the legacy of Dr. King and focus on strengthening communities, empower individuals and bridges barriers through service.  In 1994, Congress passed the King Holiday and Service Act, directing the King Center and the Corporation for National and Community Service to carry out a day of service reflecting Dr. King's life and teachings.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., was a national hero and civil rights leader who inspired Americans to love, forgive and walk in peace. He dedicated his life to service and fought for racial justice and equality. Dr. King captivated America with his charismatic speeches and peaceful movements. He believed that people's worth should not be measured by color, culture, or class but rather by a commitment to making a better life for all. During his lifetime, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. forged common ground on which people from all walks of life could join together as equals to address important community issues.

For more information about this national day of service, please contact The Volunteer Center of the United Way at 386-253-0563

To learn about other volunteering opportunities, visit our Volunteer Center.

Increasing the organized capacity of our community to care for its people since 1941.

For questions or comments about this web site, click here.  Last modified: 05/31/09

Webhosting provided by ZGraph - Special Thanks to ZGraph for all that they do to help us Live United online!