As the nation’s economy continues to create a strain for working families, and government funding cutbacks add to the misery of the poor, efforts like Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service are ever more important. The Diocese of Trenton will again participate in this national service project, bringing together volunteers and donated goods from across Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean counties. The project will take place Jan.19 in the Diocesan Pastoral Center, 701 Lawrenceville Road, Trenton, where donations of necessary items will be dropped off and packaged up for lower income clients of area social service agencies.

From 8 a.m. to noon, volunteers will collect, sort and package hygiene and toiletry kits, school supplies, and children’s books. Participants will also prepare meals and make bag lunches to be given to Mount Carmel Guild, Anchor House, the Mercer County Catholic Youth Organization, Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, and a new addition to this year’s list, Womanspace, a Lawrenceville-based outreach that provides assistance to victims of domestic violence. Calendars for 2009 will be collected and given to area prison inmates by the diocesan Office of Jail and Prison Ministry, and monetary donations will be accepted and used to supplement and purchase needed items.

Later in the morning, volunteers wishing to roll up their sleeves and do some onsite service work can go to Anchor House to paint and do other needed chores around the facility, or the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen to help serve food.

A diocesan-wide call has been issued for all people of good will to volunteer to serve, or to donate dental supplies, soap, deodorant, lotion, razors, face cloths, towels, cookies, juice pouches/boxes, granola bars, pencils, pens, notebooks, assignment pads, pocket and wall calendars. Donations will be accepted at the Pastoral Center between 8 a.m. and noon Jan. 19.

The diocese joins a growing list of local, state and national institutions and organizations who are turning this annual observance into a demonstration of solidarity with the principles embodied by the slain civil rights leader.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service honors the example of service and sacrifice embodied by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on the occasion of his birthday. The diocesan observance is modeled after many that have taken place across the nation since 1994 whenCongress passed the King Holiday and Service Act, designating the national day of volunteer service. The event is now widely known as “A Day On, Not a Day Off,” and seeks to promote Dr. King’s message that “Everybody can be great because everybody can serve.” Since the earliest days of his ministry as a spiritual and civic leader, Dr. King embraced the value of volunteerism and service. In 1957, he stated, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, what are we doing for others.”

For more information and to register for the event, call (609)406-7400, ext. 5518 or 5541. To learn more about the Martin Luther King Day of Service national initiative log on to www.mlkday.gov ###

Coverage notes: Martin Luther King Service Day is a growing national phenomenon. Media representatives are invited to cover this annual event of the Diocese of Trenton. To make arrangements, call Rayanne Bennett at (609)406-7400, ext. 5569.