Volunteer for MLK Day of Service in Reston/Herndon

Reston Association and the Reston Community Center are organizing a Day of Service for Jan. 17, where members can honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by giving back to others right here in Reston.

Here is what you need to know.

There will be two sessions: 9 a.m.-noon at Southgate Community Center and 1-3 p.m.  at the Closet in Herndon. Breakfast and coffee will be available, and there will be a pizza lunch from noon-1 p.m. for volunteers.

SESSION I

Southgate Community Center, 12125 Pinecrest Road, Reston. All ages welcome for Session I, 9 a.m. to non.

Cornerstones Bagged Lunches:
Volunteers will help prepare bag lunches for the Embry Rucker Community Shelter or families participating in their Supportive Housing program.

Sorting Donated Toys & Clothes:
During this project volunteers will be sorting donated clothes and toy items from the Closet. Loading sorted items onto a truck to go back to the Closet.

Universal Expectations Canvas Paintings:
Volunteers will have the opportunity to paint Universal Expectations quotes on canvases — Be Ready, Be Responsible, Be Respectful and Be Safe will be painted on canvases.

Cleanup surrounding Southgate Community Center (weather permitting):
Pruning, picking up litter and clearing debris in the natural areas, basketball court, pathways around Southgate Community Center. Gloves, grabbers and trash bags will be provided.

SESSION II

The Closet, 845 Station Street, Herndon, Va. (downtown Herndon). Must be 14 or older to volunteer. 1 to 3 p.m.

The Closet is a nonprofit thrift shop in the heart of historic downtown Herndon. The Closet donates clothing without charge to needy persons, after referral by an authorized social service agency, the homeless shelter, or by a sponsoring congregation. Most important to their mission is utilization of their profits for projects that will directly or indirectly benefit low income families.

Volunteers will help unload sorted donated toys and clothes bins.Replace plastic hangers with velvet hangers throughout the thrift store. Changing them out will take at least an hour. Organize donated picture frames & paintings and hanging them and putting them out in the thrift store.

To volunteer go to this SignUp Genius or contact Ha Brock, Reston Association volunteer and community outreach coordinator, at 703-435-7986 or[email protected].

Photo: Volunteers at MLK Day of Service 2014/Courtesy of Reston Association