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President-elect Obama has encouraged people to use Martin Luther King Jr. Day as an opportunity to give back to their communities.
Many people have the day off today, including employees at Chicago Public Schools, government offices, post offices, courts, banks, and libraries. (Parking meters do not have the day off, however.) But that doesn't mean folks are just resting on their laurels.
President-elect Barack Obama and his wife Michelle called upon the American public to commit this day, dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr., to community service.
"I think Obama has clearly and very specifically made service an agenda for his presidency," said Nicola Goren, interim chief executive office of the Corporation for National and Community Service, reports the Sun-Times. "We're expecting [today] to be the biggest King Day ever."
Service-minded individuals can be inspired by people like the "Knitters for Obama," who recently completed a charity knitting drive for homeless veterans' shelters. Approximately 100 volunteers handcrafted over 1200 hats, scarves, blankets, and more for the veterans.
"Knitters for Obama," which is comprised of over 4,000 members around the world, will join the "Forefront Stitchers" in presenting the University of Chicago Medical Center with more than 200 caps for cancer patients, in honor of Obama's grandmother Madelyn Dunham.
If you're interested in finding or hosting a volunteer event, check nationalservice.gov or mlkday.gov.
