Local volunteer opportunities for MLK Day

Honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with these local volunteer opportunities.

Young boys walking in the Martin Luther King Jr. parade

Celebrate a week of service with Saturday’s MLK parade.

Photo by the City of Lakeland

Each year, Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed as a federal holiday on the third Monday of January — Jan. 16 this year. The theme for this year is “Cultivating a Beloved Community Mindset to Transform Unjust Systems,” according to The King Centera nonprofit founded by MLK’s wife, Coretta Scott King, to continue Dr. King’s legacy.

If you have time to dedicate to our community, here are three local volunteer opportunities:

  • Meals on Wheels | Cook or deliver hot meals to homebound Lakelanders, or volunteer in the Winter Haven thrift store.
  • Lighthouse Ministries | Volunteer as an individual or with a group to help Lakeland’s at-risk population.
  • Lakeland Youth Alliance | Support the LGBTQ+ community through volunteering.

Looking for other ways to get involved? Check out more local volunteer opportunities.