Opportunities Still Available to Volunteer on MLK Day

If you're still hoping to get involved with Scotch Plains-Fanwood's first MLK Day of Service, it's not too late to sign up.

While many local residents have already registered for the nearly 475 volunteer opportunities available, there's still spots open for those who want to make it a day on, not a day off.

Ceremonies will kick off at 10 a.m. on Jan. 18 with an opening program at the Jewish Community Center of Central NJ. Assemblywoman Linda Stender (D-Fanwood), State Senator Tom Kean (R-Westfield), Scotch Plains Mayor Nancy Malool and Fanwood Mayor Colleen Mahr are all expected to be in attendance. Interactive team-building activities will also kick off the day of service.

Responding to the recent earthquake in Haiti, the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Ministerium quickly created a plan to give participants on MLK Day a chance to help with the relief. Collection/charity boxes will be placed at the opening program for those who want to donate.

"I am so excited to see the program come together," said Michelle Abraham, one of the event's organizers. Abraham and her husband, Rabbi Joel Abraham of Temple Sholom, originally came up with the idea for SP-F to hold its own MLK Day of Service after hearing President Obama and his wife call on Americans to serve last year. They then took the idea to the SP-F Ministerium, which originally sponsored the idea. "We have over 250 people volunteering, filling almost 475 volunteer slots. I can't wait to be at the opening program on Monday and know we have made it - Scotch Plains-Fanwood now has an MLK Day of Service. So many people and organizations have come together to make this day a reality - it is really amazing to see."

Volunteer projects will follow the opening ceremonies, running anywhere from 11:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. Projects are available for families of all ages and abilities. Just click here for a full list of what's available and to register.

While SP-F's MLK Day of Service will bring together locals of all ages who want to give back, it'll also give them the chance to earn a free pass to a Disney theme park. SP-F's MLK Day of Service is an official participant in Disney's "Give a Day, Get a Disney Day" program, which allows families to earn a free pass by donating a day of their time to volunteering. For info on how to sign up, follow the instructions on the bottom of the MLK page, found here.

MLK Day of Service has been a joint effort of the borough of Fanwood, the township of Scotch Plains, the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Ministerium, the Jewish Community Center of Central NJ, the Jewish Federation of Central New Jersey, the Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA, United Way and Patch.com.