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Volunteers Celebrate MLK "Day of Service" at Civic Center

More than 150 take part in activities, including a variety of service projects.

Transforming the life and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. into service was the purpose of "A Day On, Not a Day Off," the MLK Holiday celebration held Monday at Silver Spring's Civic Center. 

More than 150 volunteers came out to to spend the holiday remembering and celebrating Dr. King's legacy, by taking part in service projects, viewing a film on the Civil Rights movement, health screenings, and more. 

The "Day of Service and Volunteer Fair" was presented by the Montgomery County Volunteer Center, with activities organized by the GapBuster Learning Center ("GAP"), an education and leadership program for Montgomery County. Volunteers of all ages took part in an array of activities sponsored by local organizations, including craft making and educational displays.

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Service craft projects included making bookmarks and cards for children with serious illnessess at local hospitals; popsicle stick picture frames for residents of local nursing homes; greeting cards for veterans and seniors; cards for troops at various outposts; silk flower pens for donation; and cold-weather scarves for local shelters.  Clothing, blankets and other items were also brought for donation to area help centers.

"This is what it's all about -- non-violence and service," one volunteer commented.

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The day's activities were coordinated by Dr. Yvette Butler, GAP executive director.  "The focus of the day is peace, bringing peace to the community," said Butler. "It's what Dr. King wanted." 

Butler said the theme of peace was also to acknowledge Native Americans, whose contributions were recognized in the last fall's Veteran's Plaza's dedication. As part of the MLK event, "dream catchers" were crafted by a table of volunteers. The colorful finished works were on display, to be donated later to Children's Hospital.

Among the health activities were free HIV screenings, a sign-up for a spring health fair aimed at teens; as well as bone marrow registration for the National Marrow Donor Program. 

Johnathan LaTouche, Youth Program Coordinator for GAP who conducted the bone marrow registration, said the purpose was "to address the needs of people of color," by increasing the number of names on the list.  He explained that there is a a shortage of matches for the group. 

"We wanted to do something out of the norm-0the shortage of bone marrow donors is less-recognized," said LaTouche. "It can make a life or death impact -- the kind of message King wanted to deliver."

Silver Spring resident Laura Stewart brought her sons Tyler and Julian along to volunteer.  They spent the afternoon making cards for children with serious illnesses at Children's National Medical Center.

"I'm happy to have something in downtown [for MLK day]," Steward said. "It's important that kids have to think about someone other than themselves."

Many students volunteers were on hand, including Vivian Yohannes, a senior at the University of Maryland - College Park.  She's also a long-time volunteer at GAP, where she's been involved since 8th grade.

"A lot of people take MLK day as a day off- but it's really not," said Yohannes.  "It's to have fun, but we can learn a little and have fun while we do it."

James Williams, a sophomore at Einstein High School, said he volunteered because "it gets others involved to make the community a better place.  The more you help others, the more they can help themselves."

Rosalba Acosta, Director of CentroNia, an early childhood learning organization with a bilingual focus, said it was important for all cultures in the community to take part.   "It's an opportunity for children and youth to get together for a meaningful day, to understand the impact of Dr. King's work, she said." 

In addition to GAPBuster and CentroNia, other area organizations taking part included Gandhi Brigade Youth Media, African American Health Program, and Peace in The Valley church organization; as well as UNESCO and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Local companies participating included African Pride, Elite Sport and Promotion, and Freda's Textile Arts. Xerox Corporation also provided support.

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