MLK Service Day

MLK Service Day Banner
UPDATE: That's a wrap! Thank you to the more than 300 community members that came out to support the first MLK Service Day event. Your helping hand and donations aided multiple Metro Detroit agencies.

Please continue your commitment to service by visiting the Royal Oak Inter-Club Council's Service Club Directory. Find an organization that aligns with your interests and keep the momentum of today's event going.

Go to http://rointerclub.com to learn more.



Make January 16 a Day On, Not a Day Off



Join the communities of Berkley and Royal Oak in honoring the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a day of service on Jan. 16, 2017 at Royal Oak High School, 1500 Lexington Blvd.

The event kicks off with breakfast followed by a keynote address by Dr. Faith Fowler, the executive director of Detroit-based Cass Community Social Services.

Participants are encouraged to participate in both on- and off-site service projects. (See below for schedule.)

Donations Needed



Admission to this event is FREE with the donation of one or more of the following items:
  • Gallon Ziploc bags
  • Soap
  • Shampoo
  • Toothbrush
  • Toothpaste
  • Deodorant
  • Washcloth
  • Razor
  • Toilet Paper
  • Plastic Shopping Bags
  • Diapers 
  • Pull-ups 
  • New clothing for kids 
  • New hats for kids 
  • New gloves for kids 
  • Puzzles for kids 
  • Games for kids

Schedule of Events


7:30 a.m: Continental Breakfast
8:30 a.m.: Keynote Speaker Rev. Faith Fowler
9:15 a.m.: Onsite Service Projects Begin/Send Off
10:00 a.m.: Participants Arrive at Off-Site Service Projects
Noon to 2:00 p.m.: Participants depart from various service projects.

On-Site Service Projects

Attendees are invited to participate in one of the following onsite service projects at Royal Oak High School. Projects start at 9:15; ending times vary.
 
Operation Smile


The Royal Oak Woman’s Club will oversee the the making of Smile Dolls and Smile Bags for Operation Smile. Operation Smile is an international medical charity that has provided hundreds of thousands of free surgeries for children and young adults in developing countries who are born with cleft lip, cleft palate or other facial deformities.

Smile Doll participants can expect to stuff the 9” pre-sewn dolls with polyester fiber-fill and then hand-sew the 2”-opening closed.

Smile Bag participants can expect to sew the seams of bags from pre-cut fabric using a sewing machine and then add the drawstrings.

Participants may also be asked to cut the fabric for the Smile Bags, and sew pre-cut dolls using a sewing machine. All materials and notions will be supplied. Sewing/crafting skills are preferred but not required.

Hygiene Kits


Cass Community Social Services will oversee assembling a collection of essential toiletries into one-gallon Ziploc bags.

The kits will be distributed by Cass Community Social Services, a Detroit-based agency dedicated to providing food, housing, health services, and job programs.

Toilet Paper Kits


The Redford Brightmoor Initiative will oversee placing donated toilet paper rolls into plastic grocery bags.

The toilet paper will be distributed by the Redford Brightmoor Intiative, which operates a free store that provides new and gently used clothing, household goods and books to those in need.

Off-Site Service Projects


Event attendees have the option of joining participants at the following locations for service day projects. 

  • Judson Center, 4410 W 13 Mile Rd, Royal Oak -- Volunteers will clean and redecorate the Wish Room and sort and store donations. 
  • Boys & Girls Club of Oakland and Macomb Counties, 1545 E Lincoln Ave, Royal Oak -- Volunteers will renovate the Learning Center.
  • Cass Community Social Services, 1850 Woodrow Wilson St, Detroit -- Volunteers will do kitchen and mud mat project. Participants in this event return to Royal Oak High School at 2:00 p.m.
  • Redford Brightmoor Initiative, 12065 W. Outer Dr., Detroit -- Volunteers will deep clean the Free Store and gut a neighborhood home. Participants in this event return to Royal Oak High School at noon.
Participants will depart at 9:15 a.m. from Royal Oak High School by bus to various locations. Return times vary.

About the Cass Community Social Services Mud Mat Project


Cass Community Social Services collects illegally dumped tires from vacant lots in Detroit and recycles them into indestructible mud mats. To date, Cass has picked up over 30,000 tires from the streets of Detroit. Twelve formerly homeless men are employed in this program. Mud mats may be purchased from our online store or by calling  313-883-2277 Ext 203.

Mud Mat
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