“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”
—Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
From January 14th to 28th, United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region will lead teams from 10 organizations—Access: Supports for Living, AmerisourceBergen, The ARC of Dutchess, BallCorp, Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp., Marriott Hotels, Mount Saint Mary College, New York Life Insurance, Nubian Directions and members of United Way’s Community Impact Council— in volunteer service to honor Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy. United Way’s teams in Dutchess and Orange counties will be joined by hundreds of thousands of volunteers across the country as part of the 25th annual MLK Day of Service.
“This month, we’re answering Dr. King’s call to serve and are making a difference in the lives of of our Dutchess and Orange county residents,” said Jeannie Montano, President & CEO of United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region. “A resourceful way to meet local needs, volunteer service is a powerful tool that builds strong communities. We are putting the core American principles of citizenship and service into action.”
The teams of volunteers will be giving the precious gift of service to help organizations, including the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley (1/14), Boys and Girls Club of Poughkeepsie (1/15), Hudson River Housing’s Webster House Shelter (1/16), Abilities First (1/17), The Newburgh Armory Unity Center (1/18), United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region’s Day of Sharing (1/21), Dress for Success Dutchess County (1/22) The Children’s Home of Poughkeepsie (1/24), and Rebuilding Together Dutchess County (1/28).
On January 15 at 10am, City of Poughkeepsie Mayor Robert Rolison will welcome the team of volunteers at the Boys and Girls Club (221 Smith Street, Poughkeepsie) and thank them for their service.
The MLK Day of Service encourages all Americans to improve communities through volunteer service. 2020 will mark the 25th celebration of the annual service event since Congress designated the MLK holiday the first ever National Day of Service and charged CNCS with leading this effort.
With an emphasis on creating opportunity for all, Americans of all ages and backgrounds in all 50 states will re-commit themselves as citizens by volunteering in service to one another. Local projects include sorting and salvaging food donations for the hungry, cleaning, painting and installing safety items in shelters that house the homeless and the newly housed, sorting clothing to help women reengage in the workforce, providing support for after-school and weekend programs for our youth and sorting donations and restocking shelves for United Way’s gift-in-kind program that delivers more than $100,000 in goods to those in greatest need.
For information on how you can become involved, contact Candace Nicoletti, Community Impact Coordinator, at 845-471-1900 ext 3106 or email cnicoletti@uwdor.org. United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region serves as a volunteer hub for the Mid-Hudson Region. Go to the UWDOR volunteer portal to find a volunteer project that fits you.
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