Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a very important day for many reasons. It is a day in which we celebrate the life and achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who was known as a peaceful leader in the civil rights movement and fight for racial equality.

It is also a day we recognize as a Day of Service in Dr. King's memory. Dr. King famously once said, "Everyone can be great because everybody can serve." This Day of Service is used to encourage all Americans to volunteer and work with their neighbors to improve their communities and make the world a better place.

Today, we encourage you to volunteer your service in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Amidst the current pandemic, it may be harder to partake in your typical acts of service, so we've put together a list of some socially-distant safe activities you can do today to improve your local community:

1. Donate to a food collection

Put together some unused non-perishable items you may have or head to the store to stock up and donate to your local food bank. Check with your local food bank to see what items are accepted and help out those that are struggling.

2. Make hygiene kits for the homeless

Homeless people struggle to get the essentials needed for everyday hygiene such as washing their hands or brushing their teeth. You can find these items at a dollar store or organize donations from friends and family.

3. Pitch in for the elderly

Elderly neighbors are already having a tough time through this pandemic as their health is highly at risk. Offer to pick up their groceries, rake leaves, or shovel snow to help them out.

4. Adopt a park

Grab a trash bag and head to the park of your choice to clean up any litter and help the environment while beautifying your community.

5. Educate yourself on how to be antiracist

There is still a lot of work to be done in the fight towards racial justice. Take some time today to read up on the history of Dr. King's movement and how we can continue his legacy today towards racial justice for all.