What's Happening MoCo?

What's Happening with the MLK Day of Service!?

• Derrick Kenny • Season 12 • Episode 110

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On January 19th, at 9:30 am we’re inviting you to join the Montgomery County Volunteer Center in a celebration of the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr at the Silver Spring Civic Building, where volunteers, students, families, and neighbors roll up their sleeves alongside 50+ nonprofits to turn care into action. 

Faith McNeil from the Montgomery County Volunteer Center walks us through the essentials: how to register via montgomeryserves.org, where to book a blood donation appointment, and what to expect the moment you check in at 9:30 a.m. 

And when the morning wraps, the work keeps going: the Volunteer Center connects residents to 1,900+ organizations and hosts the Montgomery Service Awards each June to honor sustained commitment. Come for the energy, stay for the connection, and leave with a plan to serve beyond a single day.

Ready to make January 19 count? Register at montgomeryserves.org, bring a friend, and share this episode to spread the word. If this conversation resonates, follow the show, leave a review, and tell us how you plan to serve. Your action might inspire someone else to start.

SPEAKER_01:

Montgomery County Volunteer Center will host its annual MLK Day of Service on Monday, January 19, 2026. This event honors the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. by transforming his teachings and community action to a day of activity inspired by his quote, What Are You Doing for Others?

SPEAKER_00:

Good day and welcome to What's Happening Moco, an authentic, unscripted podcast from your Montgomery County government. Now, here's your host, Derek Kenny.

SPEAKER_01:

Good day. Welcome to What's Happening Moco. Today I'm sitting here with the manager of the Montgomery County Volunteer Center, Faith McNeil. Faith, how are you today?

SPEAKER_03:

I'm doing well. Happy to be here.

SPEAKER_01:

All right, all right. Happy New Year.

SPEAKER_03:

New Year.

SPEAKER_01:

How's the new year been for you so far?

SPEAKER_03:

It's been good, moving fast as we're planning all of these things.

SPEAKER_01:

There's only a few more days left before the 19th. And speaking of the 19th, let's give us the quick and dirty where's it going to be, what time, and how do people um join the activity?

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah. So this year um we will be uh celebrating uh the MLK Day of Service on January 19th at the Silver Spring Civic Building um uh in Silver Spring. Um and we will be partnering with the Montgomery County Alumni chapter of Delta Sigma Theta. Um folks can uh come by. It is free for everyone. Um folks always say that the Martin Luther King Day of Service is it's a federal holiday, but it's it's a day off, but we want you to make it a day on. So we want folks to come out and um you know serve alongside of us on MLK Day.

SPEAKER_01:

A day on, a day on. And what's what's better than a day on when you're serving people and you're giving? This the feeling of giving. We've we just finished the holidays and there's a lot of giving going on there and it it really uh makes us feel great. I know it makes me feel great to give to others. And then a day of service. So what's what's the what's what's behind like the mission of this whole day? And um, shout out to the Deltas for partnering with you guys. Um I think they've partnered in past years as well. So what's what's behind the the mission behind the MLK Day of Service?

SPEAKER_03:

Absolutely. So uh each year, um uh I would say probably for the past decade, um the Deltas and uh Montgomery County, we've had separate events um here in the county. But this year, uh the Deltas have the uh theme of uniting the dream. And so we have decided to work together. Um and so uh on this day of service, we are coming together with around 50 nonprofit organizations to not only host projects, but to provide uh people with information about where they can get services, um, how they can volunteer throughout the year. Um, there's also going to be a health fair where folks can learn more about some of the health benefits that are available here here in the county and also get some on-site health screenings um completed while they're there. Um we're also working with the American Red Cross. There will be a blood mobile um there. If you are interested in giving blood and giving back in that way, you can register um with them and also give blood on that day as well.

SPEAKER_01:

Wow. So you can serve by not only volunteering to do things, you can also serve by giving of your literal self giving blood. Uh, how does how does that work? When people arrive, they can just say, I want to give blood, or can they serve and give blood?

SPEAKER_03:

Uh so uh when you sign up to come to the event, you do so on the Eventbrite. Uh and on the Eventbrite, there's information about the blood drive where you can find a specific registration registration link just for the blood mobile. So um, if you're interested in giving blood, you will need to register in advance um in order to do that or make an appointment.

SPEAKER_01:

Where can people go to find information for registration uh in advance of the event?

SPEAKER_03:

Uh if they go to our website, Montgomeryserves.org. Uh, we have information about the MLK day of service. Um, and then there's a registration uh button that you'll click and it'll take you to where you need to find all the things.

SPEAKER_01:

All the things you want to do. I want to get blood, I want to get screened for diabetes or anything else, I want to make socks, I want to put together kits for the homeless. Uh I've I've been to a couple in the past, so I know this a lot of the volunteer things that you're doing are benefiting um people in need across the county and maybe even the world. What are some of the items or some of the activities that people will be participating in as volunteers?

SPEAKER_03:

Sure. Yeah. So um uh one of one of my favorite projects to see the outcomes of is the project that Altrusa International does. Um they decorate hats for children that are um going through care for terminal illnesses. Um and so they decorate these hats, uh, and typically at the end there's like a hundred hats, and they're just so nice. And it just, it's just such a um, you know, cute little they call them thoughtful treasure um that they're gonna provide for those kids as they're um getting hospital care. Um we also work with an organization called Small Things Matter. Um Small Things Matter, they do uh cups of cheer for um homebound seniors or seniors that are in um assisted living facilities. Um they also do uh friendship bracelets, they do um household cleaning kits. Uh we work with the um uh let's see, there's also going to be an organization called Nest for Us. Um they are doing snack bags and grocery bags for um students in MCPS, uh, students and families in it um, you know, connected with MCPS. There's going to be a lot of projects. Um I I don't can't remember all of them off the top of my head, but there's so many projects.

SPEAKER_01:

And we're and we're and we're not, we have no biases here, no project is better than the other. No, yeah. No participating um support that whether we mention them or not, are any better than the others. We just ask the people come out and to support.

SPEAKER_03:

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01:

And to give through their service. How many people have you had in the past in these days of services with the Montgomery County Volunteer Center?

SPEAKER_03:

So I would say um, so uh pre-COVID, this event would bring out three to four thousand people. Oh wow. Um but after COVID and, you know, you know, not wanting to have so many people in one location, uh, we tend to see somewhere between 15, 12 to 1,500 people that come out for this event. Um and so we're really interested to see, you know, what the turnout will be this year as we've um partnered with the Deltas for this event. Um we're hoping to see a great turnout and see a lot of people come out and and give back.

SPEAKER_01:

Now we mentioned the deltas, and I went to Howard, so and uh I'm familiar with the Deltas, but when you mentioned the Deltas, uh, what does that mean um as an as in terms of the organization?

SPEAKER_03:

Uh so the the Deltas are a service-based organization, um, as far as I know, and that and that's how they you know share themselves with me, but um, they have worked every year to host this MLK Day of service at the um Marriott. They've worked with our office to um keep this tradition going every year. Um, and so we also work with other sororities and fraternities within the um Divine Nine organizations, and uh so we are also going to see some of the uh members of the Sigma Gamma Row sorority um there. We're also going to see um some of the members of the Omega Sci-Fi fraternity. Um, and I'm not quite sure who else is gonna be there, but I know that there will be the some uniting amongst the uh Divine Nine. Um, I will also say that the um Zeta Phi Beta group is going to be hosting um a day of service at Bower Drive Recreation Center. Oh wow. Also on Monday, uh December 9th. I mean January 19th. And if you want more information about that opportunity, that's also on our website.

SPEAKER_01:

Literally two very fine organizations there um with uh amazing people with a commitment to service, uh not only in Montgomery County, Maryland, but I guess around the world and their the way they uh give and the divine nine and all that.

SPEAKER_03:

That's great that they're also mentioned I don't I don't want to leave anyone out, the um Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority will also be hosting a day of service event on Sunday, January 18th at Germantown Recreation Center. And that information is also on our website.

SPEAKER_01:

Don't want to leave them out as well. Oh, it's amazing to see that they are doing such a great work in the county. And um, so there's different places where people can serve, not only the Silver Spring Civic Center, but other locations around the county that might be closer to where other people may live.

SPEAKER_03:

Yes. So every year we've tried to make sure that we have um somewhere where folks can uh serve on MLK Day that's near where they live. Uh and so we do have our flagship location, which this year will be at the Silver Spring Civic Building. But if you go to our website, there's a listing of other places where you can serve in the county.

SPEAKER_01:

No, if you don't, if you don't register, can you just show up?

SPEAKER_03:

Um we do, we would love for everybody to register. Um however, if you do not register, um, we can do on-site registration, but it is on a first-come, first-served basis um based on space and uh capacity.

SPEAKER_01:

Oh, fantastic, fantastic. All right. Um, so Montgomery County being one of the most diverse counties in the and the nation, probably. Um I'm not gonna say the world, of course, but we are a very diverse country as well. Um how does how does it uh thinking of MLK's legacy and thinking of this day of service in Montgomery County, how how do you see this bringing people together? Um, a diverse people bringing diverse people together under one day of service?

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah, so one of my favorite MLK quotes is um everyone can be great because everyone can serve. Um and anytime I think about when we think about ways that people can come together, what is an international theme that everyone kind of knows about? I always say service, right? People know what it means to serve their communities. Um, people know what it means to give back or help out their neighbors. Um and so in this uh day of service, we're we're always expecting that um the demographic in the room looks like Montgomery County, right? We see people from all walks of life um coming together and uh giving back. So uh I would say that yes, this is a diverse county, and yes, we tend to see that diversity at our days of service.

SPEAKER_01:

Oh, wonderful. It's wonderful to see. It's great. Yeah. Uh, you know, it's great to be acknowledged as that, but being functionally uh one community um composed of diverse people says quite a lot about the county and then also a lot about the day of service. But this is not a one-time thing for the Montgomery County Volunteer Center. Let's talk a little bit about the Montgomery County Volunteer Center and what you guys are doing all year long.

SPEAKER_03:

Sure.

SPEAKER_01:

Not just on January 19th at the Silver Springs Civic Center.

SPEAKER_03:

Absolutely. So um the uh Montgomery, I mean, so the MLK Day of Service is one of our uh large um cross-county service uh days, but we also have the Montgomery Service Awards, which um takes place every June.

SPEAKER_02:

Okay.

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah, and so that's the county's highest recognition of volunteerism. Um so every year, uh probably just after MLK Day, we will start to uh ask folks to nominate volunteers for these awards. And so we have the uh Volunteer of the Year Award, the Youth Volunteer of the Year Award group, and Business Volunteer of the Year Award. Um there's also some Lifetime Achievement Volunteer Awards, um, the Potter, the Neil Potter Lifetime Achievement Award, and then uh the County Executive um has his awards as well during that.

SPEAKER_01:

Fantastic. So yeah. So we're not doing the volunteerism for recognition, but if you are one of the higher serving, I guess, level of service people in the county, there's an opportunity uh for you to be recognized for your service. And then not just your service in one individual year, but ongoing service to many of the one of any one of the many different organizations in the county.

SPEAKER_03:

Right. And the county, um, so the volunteer center, we are connected to over 1,900 organizations here in the county. Um and during MLK Day, uh, we do have all of these organizations, well, not all of those, but about 40 of those organizations um available and on-site for folks to connect with and learn how they can volunteer throughout the year. Um, it's also a really great time for students to learn more about these organizations, as you know, um in Maryland, um, community service is required in order to graduate. Um, and so uh students in uh MCPS um should have 75 community service hours, or they call them student service learning hours, um SSL hours in order to graduate. And so coming out to MLK Day is a great opportunity to find out about some organizations where you can get those hours for your graduation requirements.

SPEAKER_01:

That's a this is a good opportunity to pitch the kids. Kids, get your SSL hours through Montgomery Volunteer Center starting January 19th at the MLK Day of Service in Silver Spring, Maryland. SSL hours.

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah, if you haven't started, it's a great opportunity to start. Right.

SPEAKER_01:

And that's why the registration is important, especially for the kids, so they can get their SSL hours. Um, how many hours do you think they'll get on the day of service? How many, how long is that day?

SPEAKER_03:

So um for the day of service, students will get two and a half hours. Um they do need to have checked in by 9 30 uh and then the event 9 30 a.m. and then the event ends at 12 o'clock p.m. And so they'll receive two and a half hours for uh attending um and volunteering during that time.

SPEAKER_01:

And and it's it's a lot of fun. I've I've I've I've gone to the day of service and just as a a resident um or as a person just giving and the synergy, the positivity, the energy. And there's also sometimes coffee and you know, little snacks and things. But just uh the the the the amount of people working together to create um snack bags or um what do you call them? The um the the kits or um hygiene kits and the socks and putting these things together and and and and as gifts of love to people that may be in a time in their lives where this is the make or break moment and you're providing this service. What what do you what do you see as the outputs um of all this good work that people are doing?

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah, so it is, you know, there's a lot of planning that goes into this two and a half time period, right? So it's a bit of a whirlwind. Um everybody comes in, they're working on projects, you can see people really getting involved with what they're doing. A project should take someone 15 to 20 minutes to complete. However, sometimes um somebody gets so into one of the projects they're working on that they're sitting there doing it for an hour. And that's fine. Um, you know, if you really feel connected to what you're doing, which is what we want them to be, um connected to the work and connected to um the outcome, uh then, you know, sit there and work on that project for an hour. Um, but I will say that, you know, uh another one of the organizations that we're working with, it's uh More Than Conquerors, and they work with um uh they provide kits for uh folks that are um dealing with breast cancer um and going through chemo and treatment for those for that breast cancer. Um and so, you know, after you do a kit for someone who's homeless, or after you uh do a sock roll for someone who has diabetes, or after you complete, you know, put together this treatment kit for someone with cancer, or you know, make a hat for a a child that's going through treatment for a terminal illness, you know, you can't help but to feel good. And I would say when when it's all said and done and I look around the ballroom and I see all of the finished products, I'm just like, good work was done here today. Um, and so it it makes everything worth it.

SPEAKER_01:

There's a sense of accomplishment as it's like and such such a great impact within such a short amount of hours. How much time have you and your staff put put in to get this together and coordinate things? It seems we're making it seem simple, but you've mentioned so many different organizations, different locations, uh different um partners. Uh, how much time?

SPEAKER_03:

Um so we typically start, we typically start planning for MLK Day around August, September. Um, really just starting to think through um, you know, location and how many people, uh how many uh projects we're gonna have and which organizations we're gonna work with. Um and we try to nail things down by October. This year we did get a slow start. Um, so we started around beginning of October. Um, and so I would say it's been nonstop MLK since then. So I don't know how many hours that is. Uh, there's eight hours in a workday. I would say we probably give a little bit more than that. But that's a lot of time. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01:

A lot of time. It's a very thoughtful event. Um, a lot of planning has been put together so that residents um and others can have this day of service and they can come and give whether it's blood or whether they they give by making themselves healthier by visiting one of the uh health um locations there. I think you said the half African American Health Exchange is going to be there. Uh the African American Health Initiative.

SPEAKER_03:

Um yeah, they will be there providing information and doing health screenings. Okay. Um, and uh I believe there's going to be um a nursing group that's also going to be there to put together a health fair um for folks to participate with as well.

SPEAKER_01:

And then you're done by 12 o'clock. And that's a good segue because I like to talk about food for obvious reasons. Uh I love to talk about food in Montgomery County, Maryland. The diversity doesn't stop with the people of the county and the different cultures, just the food options in the county is phenomenal. Yeah. And you're a county resident. Uh, what what do you recommend? Well, not necessarily not a formal recommendation on behalf of the Montgomery County Volunteer Center, but um, as Miss McNeil just going to have lunch after a hard day's work, where would where would you like to go to have some some lunch afterwards?

SPEAKER_03:

Lunch. Um, I will say uh I really like Thai food. So um I really like Charm Thai.

SPEAKER_01:

Ooh.

SPEAKER_03:

Like the downtown Silver Spring area.

SPEAKER_01:

Downtown Silver Spring. Charm Thai, all right. Yeah, yeah. What's your favorite dish? I love drunken noodles, okay? Now, full disclosure, drunken noodles does not have alcohol in it. I don't know why it's like drunken noodles. I'm sure there's a very beautiful name in the Thai language for drunken noodles. Yeah, but it's like pet female. It's so spicy and flavorful. What's your favorite dish?

SPEAKER_03:

Um, so the reason I like Charm Thai is because they're the only Thai restaurant that I know has this dish is a Brussels sprout salad.

SPEAKER_01:

Brussels sprout salad.

SPEAKER_03:

It's so good.

SPEAKER_01:

It's so good, she's just good all the way around. Okay. Volunteer Center, coordinated day of service, and all the great efforts of the Montgomery County Volunteer Center as manager. But after a hard day's work and she's done everything and she's dotted the I's and crossed the T, she's going to have a Brussels sprout salad.

SPEAKER_03:

And the drunken noodles, though.

SPEAKER_01:

And the drunken noodles, thank you. With extra broccoli. I'm looking forward to that. Um I'm hopefully I'll be able to make it out to the volunteer um event on the 19th. What time do we need to check in there?

SPEAKER_03:

Uh 9:30.

SPEAKER_01:

At 9:30 a.m. on a Monday.

SPEAKER_03:

Monday.

SPEAKER_01:

And a lot of us have off work. Um, those of us that can attend, we're encouraging you to get out there and attend this day of service. We will get you busy um helping others and being a blessing to others, um, but also presenting you with the opportunity on your day off to assess your health, to learn more about how you can live a healthier life for you and your family. Um, and then also start a relationship with the Volunteer Center, which does not only do business this one day of the year. They are here to help residents volunteer in different capacities with different organizations throughout the entire calendar year. And not only do they help you volunteer, they coordinate an effort to honor your efforts and the efforts of others, of your peers that have uh volunteered and given in an exemplary way.

SPEAKER_03:

Absolutely. Yes.

SPEAKER_01:

Is there anything else you want to share? Like before you do, um, what's the uh contact information again for people that want to volunteer? They have uh internet, they don't have internet, is their phone number, what's the URL, all the all the good things?

SPEAKER_03:

Sure. So most of the information uh that I shared here today can be found on our website, www.montgomeryserves.org. Um, if you have any questions that you'd like to ask us specifically um about the day of service, you can email us at servicedays at Montgomery CountyMD.gov.

SPEAKER_01:

Okay.

SPEAKER_03:

And that's servicedays at Montgomery CountyMD.gov.

SPEAKER_01:

All right. Do you have anything else you'd like to share with the people, uh, the future or current volunteers of Montgomery County, Maryland?

SPEAKER_03:

Um, just as you said, you know, it's going to be a day off of work. We want you to make come in and make it a day on in service. And so we look forward to connecting with everyone here.

SPEAKER_01:

All right. You heard it first here. Well, not first, but you've heard it here from Facebook Neil, the manager of Montgomery County Volunteer Center, and a day of service and honoring the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. by serving, by giving your time, your talent, and the gift of just positivity. Just that when you feel the energy in that room, in the different rooms and different areas of the county, it's it's it's electric it's electric. Um, and that's a gift to you. And that's what's happening, Moco. Make sure you like, subscribe, and share this so others can know about the day of service and can join you out there, whether you're getting SSL hours or not, whether you are going to have pet tie or drunken noodles afterwards or not. It's a New Year's revelation. Yeah. You know. Get out there and let's let's have fun. Uh, hope to see you out there. Thanks again to Miss McNeil and the Volunteer Center for all that they do.

SPEAKER_03:

Absolutely. Thanks for having me.

SPEAKER_01:

All right, thanks for being here.

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

Thanks for listening to What's Happening Melcom. Please subscribe via your favorite podcast table. And follow us on Facebook. This podcast is brought to you by County Cable Montgomery, your source for news and information from the Montgomery County government. Connect with us via cable, Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube by searching for County Cable Moco.