Washington Service Corps active in MLK Day activities

Washington Service Corps active in MLK Day activities

 OLYMPIA - The Washington Service Corps, a branch of the state Employment Security Department, will participate in an array of Martin Luther King Jr. Day events beginning on Jan. 15 in communities across Washington.

 The events include food and clothing drives, environmental restoration projects and special commemorative activities about Martin Luther King Jr.   

 "Dr. King believed everybody could achieve greatness through service," said Paul Trause, commissioner of the Employment Security Department.  "The Washington Service Corps embodies that belief, and it is fitting that we honor his legacy." 

 The Washington Service Corps gives civically minded adults, ages 17 and older, an opportunity to serve their communities.  The program is administered by the Employment Security Department.  For more information about Washington Service Corps and AmeriCorps-funded programs, visit http://www.esd.wa.gov/washingtonservicecorps/.

 MLK Day events are listed below, alphabetically by county.  The public is invited to all events, except for those marked with an asterisk (*).

 Benton and Franklin counties

Project title:  Fire-prevention outreach/Day:  Jan 15 and Jan. 17/Time:  8:30 a.m. (both days)/City: Kennewick, Richland, Pasco and Prosser/ Contact: Evan Brennan at 509-783-6195; outreach@bfredcross.org

Event: Service Corps members will work with the American Red Cross to distribute 10,000 fire-prevention door hangers and other materials to communities and neighborhoods in Benton and Franklin counties.    

 Chelan County

Day:  Jan. 15/Time:  9 a.m./City: Wenatchee/Contact: Toby Haberlock at 509-662-6156; Tobyh@intermountainac.com

Event: Service Corps members will be spending the day at several Wenatchee assisted-living facilities and senior centers entertaining seniors with music and signing, doing craft projects and helping residents with basic tasks.

 Clallam County

Project title:  Habitat for Humanity/Day:  Jan. 17/Time:  9 a.m./City: Port Townsend/Contact: Habitat for Humanity; 360-379-2827; habitat@olympus.net

Event: Service Corps members will assist the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity on several construction projects in Port Townsend.        

 King County

Project title:  Get outside this MLK Day!/Day:  Jan. 17/Time: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m./City: Redmond /Contact:  Rachel Maranto at 206-849-4406; rachel.maranto@kingcounty.gov

Event: Service Corps members will plant live willow stakes and remove Himalayan Blackberry to improve habitat along the Sammamish River (near Lake Sammamish) for spawning salmon.  

 Project title:  Shoreline public meeting outreach /Day:  Jan. 17/Time:  8:15 a.m./City: Shoreline /Contact:  Jill Rucker at 206-801-2256; jrucker@shorelinewa.gov

Event: In collaboration with the Western Washington Girl Scouts, 10 Service Corps VISTA members will distribute flyers about a public meeting on disaster preparedness.

 Project title:  West Side Baby inventory*/Day:  Jan. 14/Time:  9 a.m. - 3 p.m./City:  White Center/Contact: Whitney Hunt at 206-767-1662

Event: Service Corps members will help West Side Baby staff sort donations received during the holidays and fill orders from community-based organizations for needy mothers-to-be.  

 Project title:  Building a shed on solid ground/Day:  Jan. 17/Time: 9 a.m./City:  Seattle/Contact: Andy Varyu at 425-869-6007, ext 247; andyv@habitatekc.org

Event: Service Corps members will team up with Habitat for Humanity to build a garden shed for a community farm in South Seattle.  

  Kitsap County

Project title:  Bremerton concert and food drive/Day:  Jan. 17/Time: call for details/City: Bremerton /Contact:  Liz Snyder at 360-943-0780, ext. 132; lzsnyder@communityyouthservices.org

Event:  Service Corps members will collect canned-food donations that are required for admission to the community concert. 

  Lewis County

Project title: Clothing and blanket drive/Day:  Jan. 15, Jan 17/Time:  Jan. 15 at Sunbirds, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Jan 17 at Bethel Church/City:  Chehalis/Contact:  Danille Kettel at 360-943-0780, ext. 100; dkettel@communityyouthservices.org

Event:  Service Corps members will gather items at local businesses for the needy and "Stuff a Bus" with donations in front of the Sunbird's store in Chehalis.  The donations will be disbursed to community members in need at Bethel Church on January 17.

 Mason County

Project title:  Hood Canal Elementary students at Wolf Haven/Day:  Jan. 17/Time:  10 a.m.-4 p.m./City: Shelton /Contact:  Danille Kettel at 360-943-0780, ext. 100; dkettel@communityyouthservices.org

Event:  Students from Hood Canal School and Service Corps members are participating in service projects at Wolf Haven that include trail clearing and outdoor clean-up.  Service Corps members will also lead students in reflection activities.  Students have raised money to support the Adopt-a-Wolf program at Wolf Haven. 

 Okanogan County

Project title:  Kid camps/Day: Jan. 17/Time:  1 p.m./City:  Tonasket/Contact:  Julie O'Neal at 509-775-3311; joneal@co.stevens.wa.us

Event: Volunteers will assist at kid camps in Tonasket and Republic.  The program will include lessons on diversity.

 Pierce

Project title: Painting at Tyee Park Elementary School/Day: Jan. 17/Time:  Starts at 9 a.m. and runs until the murals are complete./City:  Lakewood/Contact:  Danille Kettel at 360-943-0780, ext. 100; dkettel@communityyouthservices.org

Event: Service Corps members have constructed 2 canvases for diversity and literacy murals that students will paint on MLK Day.  It will be hung at Tyee Park Elementary.

 Project title: MLK literacy carnival/Day: Jan. 17/Time:  8:30 a.m.-4 p.m./City:  Parkland/Contact:  Danille Kettel at 360-943-0780, ext. 100; dkettel@communityyouthservices.org

Event: Service Corps members will host a MLK Literacy Carnival for select students from two schools in Pierce County. 

Snohomish County

Project title:  Martin Luther King Jr. day of service/Day:  Jan. 17/Time:   9 a.m.-2:30 p.m./City:   Everett, WA/Contact: Amber Lynn Daniel at 425-374-5526; youthunited@uwsc.org

Event: The United Way of Snohomish County will teach young adults the value of community service by assisting a senior adult in Snohomish County with yard work and indoor cleaning projects.  Service Corps members will help youths register for the event and provide transportation and supervision.   The event is open for volunteers, but they must be teens age 14-19.  They must also pre-register and fill out a waiver.  http://www.uwsc.org/mlkday.php

Spokane County

Project title:  Martin Luther King Jr. gospel concert/Day:  Jan. 15-16/Time: 6-8 p.m./City:  Spokane/Contacts:  Don Young at 509-789-3704;  dyoung@esd101.net 

Event:  Service Corps members will assist with parking, ushering and coat-checking during the concert and commemorative program.    

Project title:  Resource fair at Riverpark Square/Day:  Jan. 17/Time: 11 a.m.-2 p.m./City:  Spokane/Contacts:  Don Young at 509-789-3704; dyoung@esd101.net 

Event:  Service Corps members will help set up and staff booths at the Children's Resource Fair at Bus Plaza.  

 Thurston County

Project title:  MLK Day of Environmental Action/Day: Jan. 17/Time:  9 a.m.-1 p.m./City:  Olympia at Green Cove Wetlands on Kaiser Road/Contact: Guy Maguire at 360-943-3012; guym@capitollandtrust.org

Event: Service Corps members will plant native shrubs, monitor water quality and learn to identify native plants and birds.

Project title:  Olympia food drive/Day: Jan. 17/Time: 9 a.m./City:  Olympia/Contact: Danille Kettle at 360-943-0780, ext. 100; dkettel@communityyouthservices.org

Event: Service Corps members will sort food donations at the Thurston County Food Bank.

Project title:  Collection day for homeless youths/Day:  Jan. 17/Time:  9 a.m./City:  Olympia/Contact:  Danille Kettel at 360-943-0780, ext. 100; dkettel@communityyouthservices.org

Event:  Service Corps members are collecting coats, flashlights, tarps, ropes, sleeping bags and other travel gear for homeless youths to be disbursed on MLK Day.

Walla Walla County

Project title:  Meza-family community workday/Day:  Jan. 17/Time:  9 a.m.-4 p.m./City: Walla Walla /Contact:   Kirsten Sayers at 509-529-4980; kristens@bmacww.org

Event:  On Oct. 10, Mari Meza lost her youngest daughter and all her personal items in a house fire.  Service Corps members will help remove debris, salvage materials and restore some personal items.

Whatcom County

Project title:  Whatcom Creek work party/Day:  Jan. 17/Time:  10 a.m.-1 p.m./City: Whatcom Creek in Bellingham/Contact:  Lindsay Taylor at 360-715-0283; ltaylor@n-sea.org

Event:  The Washington Service Corps, in partnership with Bellingham Parks & Recreation and the Washington Conservation Corps, will restore streamside habitat for salmon and other wildlife along Whatcom Creek.  Event is open to the public.

 Media contact: Terri Jack, Washington Service Corps, 360-486-5907/   Bill Tarrow, deputy communication director, 360-902-9376