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To commemorate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2009, President-elect Obama has created a national day of service and is calling on all Americans to renew America together.
This call to service is extended to every American across the country, regardless of political party affiliation, to reignite our national spirit of volunteerism and community service not only on a single day - January 19, 2009 - but continuing commitment to our local communities throughout the year. Renew America Together is not just about stepping up to serve for a single day, but about a continued commitment to our communities.
A new, interactive website allows Americans in every state to find a volunteer opportunity in their neighborhood, or to create and host an event of their own.
To get active in your community, visit: www.USAService.org.
In addition, two local service projects have been announced:
CALL FOR DONATIONS TO MONARCH SCHOOL
Checks should be made payable to: Monarch School
A shocking reality of homelessness is its impact on children: The average age of a homeless person in the US is nine years old. Nearly half of all homeless people are children. There are more than 2,200 homeless children in San Diego alone, and over 300,000 in the US.
Here in San Diego, the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) and Juvenile Court and Community Schools operate Monarch School, whose mission is to provide an environment where homeless and at-risk students, ages 7-18, can improve their lives through education. The School serves nearly 500 homeless students annually. Monarch School is one of just two such programs for homeless kids in the US and is a prototype for how a community can successfully educate homeless children to become productive citizens.
SDCOE provides funding to cover basic educational needs of the School, including teachers, aides, and instructional materials. To supplement the County funding, Monarch School is also supported by The Monarch School Project, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation. The mission of the Monarch School Project is to provide vital community support for the School, without which student success would be virtually impossible - students cannot learn to read and write if they are hungry, dirty and ashamed of their clothes. More information on the Project can be found at www.monarchschools.org.
HELP HOMELESS CHILDREN
Public help is also sought in supporting the homeless children of San Diego by making a donation to the Monarch School Project from the list below.
Urgently needed are toiletry bags, which are distributed monthly to each student:
- Child: 1 bar of soap, shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, toothbrush, toothpaste
- Teen Boy: 1 bar of soap, shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, toothbrush, toothpaste, men’s deodorant
- Teen Girl: 1 bar of soap, shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, toothbrush, toothpaste, women’s deodorant
Other needed items include: NEW socks and underwear; jump ropes, soccer balls, footballs, basketballs; make-up kits, hair gel, hairspray; movie passes to AMC theaters; gift cards to Food 4 Less, Payless Shoe Source, and Target.
Please drop your donation off Malcolm X Library on January 20, between Noon - 7pm or contribute directly at the URL above. Malcolm X Library is located at 5148 Market Street, across from Euclid trolley station.
For further information, contact Pat Washington at email PatWashingtonPhD@aol.com phone number: (619) 582-5383.
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