Day of Service: Regence employees honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Main image source: Creative Commons
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a National Day of Service to honor the life, legacy and dream of Dr. King. The annual recognition was established in 1994, eight years after the holiday was first recognized in 1986, and it’s the only federal holiday designated as a day of service.
Inspired by Dr. King’s commitment to service, every year we encourage Regence employees to observe MLK Day as “a day on, not a day off” by offering volunteer opportunities with our community partners. Together we can help those in need and honor Dr. King’s work and message.
Whether volunteering on the holiday itself or during the year, below are some opportunities to volunteer and give in our four states:
Idaho
- The Idaho Foodbank – help sort and repack food at the Meridian and Lewiston warehouse
- The Idaho Ronald McDonald House – serve meals for families during their stay as well as help around the house (cleaning rooms, family spaces, etc.). There are also remote volunteer opportunities available online.
Oregon
- Hands On Greater Portland has a variety of volunteer projects available. Search for opportunities using the filters based on what is best for you.
- SOLVE is looking for volunteers on Jan. 16 to help with litter clean-up to prevent it from entering waterways. Learn more online.
Utah
- Volunteers of America Utah is looking for volunteer groups to prepare meals at local homeless shelters.
- Food Justice Coalition seeks volunteers to support its free lunch program, which provides free, healthy, plant-based meals to people most impacted by food insecurity. Dates are TBD and usually posted on their Facebook page, but you can preemptively sign up here.
Washington
- United Way of Pierce County is promoting a virtual month of service. Check out the volunteer opportunities taking place in Pierce County here.
- United Way of King County has a variety of volunteer opportunities.
- Skagit Valley College is hosting a free breakfast with screenings and discussions of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s speeches as well as a community service project where you can learn to crochet blankets for shelters, create hygiene and food kits, participate in a campus clean-up, decorate bags for Meals on Wheels or create Valentine’s Day cards for children in the hospital. Learn more.
- Skagit Land Trust is looking for volunteers for a family-friendly service project at Cumberland Creek Conservation Area on Jan. 16.
Increasing community impact of employee service
On top of investing time through volunteering, Regence employees can increase their impact in two other ways. Our corporate foundation offers a 50% match for employee donations to qualifying nonprofits. Regence employees can also turn their volunteer time into a donation for an even bigger impact through the Dollars for Doers program. Eligible employees can track their volunteer time to receive $20 per volunteer hour to donate to the causes of their choice.
Whether volunteering on MLK Day or throughout the year, our employees’ passion for giving back to the communities we serve is inspiring. Together we can continue advancing Dr. King’s work and message by creating a better, more equitable future.