SAN DIEGO (Press Release) — To commemorate the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. in San Diego, a multifaith group of 10 religious congregations celebrate by making it a “Day On, Not a Day Off.” The idea was inspired by President Barack and Michelle Obama.
In 2009, the day before his first inauguration, President Obama declared the day as the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. January 16, 2017, will be a day when volunteers across the country donate their time to make a difference. At Balboa Park approximately 500 people will participate in the 9th Annual Day of Service by volunteering their time between 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. cleaning brush, picking up trash, spreading mulch, and doing other tasks in the park.
The 10 sponsoring religious organizations include Jewish, Protestant, Islamic, Unitarian, and Mormon congregations. In addition, this year 30 international delegates representing 20 countries and hosted by the San Diego Diplomacy Council (SDDC) are expected to participate in the annual Balboa Park clean-up.
The SDDC is designated by the U.S. State Department to “build global relationships and expand mutual understanding by arranging professional and cultural exchanges.”
Some of the countries represented are Bahrain, Bulgaria, Chile, Cote d’Ivoire, Eritrea, Hungary, India, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Moldova, Mongolia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Tunisia, and Zimbabwe. There will also be a delegate representing the West Bank and Gaza (Palestinian territories).
All are welcome join this special event and meet new people from around the world and local communities. For more information and to register as a volunteer please visit https://www.fumcsd.org/get-connected/missions-service/mlk-jr-day-2017/
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Preceding provided in behalf of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service by Robert Metz.
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