Some federal holidays seem to be all about sales at the mall. But one holiday--Martin Luther King Jr. Day--is all about serving the community. That's our kind of observance!

On Monday, Jan. 21, join thousands of other area residents in celebrating Dr. King's life and teachings by taking part in the Montgomery County Volunteer Center's annual MLK Day of Service event  at the Bethesda North Marriott Conference Center, 1-3 pm. Participants will have the chance to help with  a wide range of family-friendly service projects-- everything from packaging personal care items for homeless shelters to making mental health kits for local students. Plus, representatives from dozens of nonprofits and government agencies will be on hand for a volunteer fair, providing information on ways to get involved with various causes throughout the year. Advance registration is required and space is limited.

There will be additional multi-project service events coordinated by partner agencies that day in Gaithersburg (9-11 am), Silver Spring (10 am-12 noon), Rockville (10 am-12 noon), Olney (11 am-2 pm), and Germantown (1-3 pm). These sites all also require advance signup, and sites are filling up quickly. (If you find that your preferred location is full, be sure to check back frequently in case other volunteers change their registration, creating additional spaces.)

Looking for more ways to serve on MLK Day? Check out the January volunteer calendar for other opportunities to volunteer on Jan. 21 and throughout the long weekend.

January is National Mentoring Month, a time to call attention to the many positives that come from mentoring and to explore some of the ways to get involved. 

According to MENTOR, The National Mentoring Partnership, the benefits of mentoring are numerous and wide-ranging. For instance, at-risk youth with a mentor are 52 percent less likely to skip a day of school than their peers, 46 percent less likely to start using drugs, and 81 percent more likely to participate in sports or other extracurricular activities. F or those who volunteer as mentors, building a meaningful relationship with someone who needs it can be equally impactful. Some even call it life-changing. 

Ready to volunteer as a mentor? There are dozens of ways to do so in our area. T he greatest need is for adults to mentor children, teens, or young adults. These include opportunities with 

Young people can also get involved as mentors to their peers or younger students. Among these, 

In addition, several local organizations recruit volunteers to mentor adults and families with specific needs. For instance, 

To find even more ways to become a mentor, search the Volunteer Center website for the  keyword "mentor"  or, for a slightly broader focus, check out opportunities related to  Education/Mentoring interests . 

Nominations are now open for the 2019 Montgomery Serves Awards, our county's highest honor for volunteer service. This prestigious annual awards program recognizes volunteer efforts during the previous calendar year (or, for the Neal Potter Award, during the nominee's lifetime) in the following categories:

Nomination forms are now available online and are due on Friday, Feb. 22.

Make a Difference, a monthly County Cable Montgomery program, highlights the contributions of stellar county volunteers and organizations that contribute positively to our community. This month's program highlights Montgomery County's MLK Day of Service, coming up Monday, Jan. 21. Watch it online here beginning in early January.

You can also stay connected through these links: