Volunteers to spread King's spirit in Lake County
Monday is a holiday for many people, but hundreds of volunteers will fan out across Lake County to connect tangible acts with the philosophy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Youth Conservation Corps, which operates five youth programs, is coordinating a day of service in which about 300 volunteers will help a variety of organizations.
"We're actually going out to get work done in his honor," said Jackie Cunningham, community outreach coordinator.
Participation in the annual "A Day On Not a Day Off" event has steadily increased over the past few years.
"That's where we go out in the communities and partner with other organizations to get work done," Cunningham said. "We're the action people."
More than a dozen organizations will benefit from the effort. Volunteers will meet at the YCC office, 574 South McAlister Ave., Waukegan and be bused to sites for an 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. work day.
At Lambs Farm in Green Oaks, for example, the main task will be to clean and sanitize the cooler at the Country Inn restaurant. Volunteers also will handle anything else that needs to be done, be it doing dishes or deep cleaning rugs.
In Waukegan, old carpet and debris will be cleared from a home owned by the Boys and Girls Club of Lake County. About 700 youths are involved in club programs.
"We purchased a house on across the street from the club on Genesee (Street). We are hoping to make it into a teen center. It needs a lot of work," said Anne Bert, resource development associate.
Food banks, senior homes, shelters, day care facilities and hospitals are among other entities where volunteer work is being coordinated.
Cunningham said the number of volunteers this year is about double that of last year.
"We have a lot of support from the United Way of Lake County and other local agencies we're partnered with. It's really through E-mailing, networking and communicating on the phone," she said.
Other events and service projects include:
•At 4:30 p.m. Lake Forest College will host a public program in King's honor at the Lily Reid Holt Memorial Chapel, 555 N. Sheridan Road. The program features the Waukegan-based Voice of Inner Peace Gospel Choir and Paul Fischer, professor of politics emeritus who will present "Does the Obama Election Mean the End of Black Politics as We Have Known It?" A reception will follow in the Reid Wood Lounge. Visitors also can take a history walk that runs through Tuesday in the student center on campus.
•A food drive to support the Community Outreach of Lutherans (COOL) also will be ongoing Monday. It is inspired by the Presidential Inauguration Committee, which is encouraging citizens to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr., day with community service projects. The Lake County Discovery Museum near Wauconda is a drop-off point. COOL runs food pantries in Waukegan and Ingleside. The drive runs through Jan. 24.
•Volunteers are sought for restoration activities are planned from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday at the Whipporwill Farm Preserve, Mettawa Woods Road and Riverwoods Road, Mettawa. Contact Lauren Umek, 773-325-4639.
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