LANCASTER – Thursday, Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris issued a call to action for Antelope Valley residents to serve during the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012.
“Dr. King said that life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?’” said Mayor Parris. “His statement prompts us to get involved and make a positive contribution to society. I challenge all Antelope Valley residents to step out and make a difference in our communities by volunteering as part of this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.”
With 29 local projects slated for this year’s Day of Service, the City of Lancaster is inviting individuals, non-profit and service organizations, and community groups to sign up to volunteer.
Businesses are also being asked to donate supplies to established service projects. To volunteer, make a donation, or for more information, contact the City’s Parks, Recreation and Arts Department at 661-723-6077.
“We encourage potential volunteers to sign-up for projects, even if they can only donate an hour or two,” said Parris. “Remember the great words of Edmund Burke, ‘Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little.’”
MLK Day of Service Projects 2012
1K Challenge (Antelope Valley High School Improvement Fund)
The 1K challenge is a call to Antelope Valley High School (AVHS) Alumni and supporters to provide monetary donations in support of the City of Lancaster’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service projects which will be completed on the AVHS campus on January 14, 2012. Read more on this project here. While all monetary donations will be accepted, community members and AVHS Alumni are encouraged to participate in the 1K Challenge by donating $1,000 towards the cause. Checks can be sent to Grace Chapel (44648 15th Street W., Lancaster 93534, (661) 948-0855, Attn: Pastor Rob). Checks should be designated to the AV High School Facilities Fund. All gifts are tax deductible. Donors Needed!
AV High School/Neighborhood Impact Choir Room Improvements (44900 N. Division Street)
Members of Neighborhood Impact (a collaboration between Grace Chapel, Central Christian, and various area churches) and Safer Stronger Neighborhoods will use their skills to modernize the current design by painting and refurbishing cabinets. January 14 (7:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.).
AVHS/Neighborhood Impact Restroom Improvements (44900 N. Division Street)
Members of Neighborhood Impact (a collaboration between Grace Chapel, Central Christian, and various area churches) and Safer Stronger Neighborhoods will beautify 30 restrooms school-wide. Repairs include cleaning, painting, ceiling, tile and linoleum repair. January 14 (7:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.).
AVHS/Neighborhood Impact Small Gym Improvements (44900 N. Division Street)
Members of Neighborhood Impact (a collaboration between Grace Chapel, Central Christian, and various area churches) and Safer Stronger Neighborhoods will refurbish the school small gymnasium. Bleachers will be sanded, finished and re-varnished. Ceiling railing and walls will be painted and equipment lockers will be re-constructed. January 14 (7:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m.).
AVHS Brick Wall Painting (44900 N. Division Street)
Volunteers and alumni will prepare the campus for its 100th year celebration by deep cleaning the campus. Participants will repaint the school’s southern wall. January 14 (9:00 a.m.-Noon). Volunteers Needed!
AVHS Classroom Clean-up (44900 N. Division Street)
Participants will wash windows, wipe down surfaces, vacuum and more. January 14 (9:00 a.m.-Noon). Volunteers Needed!
AVHS Outdoor Campus Clean-up (44900 N. Division Street)
Participants will pick up trash and debris across the entire campus. January 14 (9:00 a.m.-Noon). Volunteers Needed!
AVHS Landscape Improvements (44900 N. Division Street)
Participants will do light pruning, pull weeds, and dump firewood. January 14 (9:00 a.m.-Noon). Volunteers Needed!
AVHS Weight Room Improvements (44900 N. Division Street)
Weight room improvements include deep cleaning and painting. January 14 (9:00 a.m.-Noon). Volunteers Needed!
The Academy at the Artist Lofts (Rear Artist Lofts, 661 W Lancaster BLVD, Ste. 101)
Volunteers will paint walls, complete a mural, and build a stage to beautify the kids/teen center at the Artist Lofts. Volunteers will help improve a space to be used to teach kids, teens and families a number of recreational skills. January 14 (10 a.m.-1 p.m.). Volunteers Needed!
AV Partners for Health Community Wellness Home Projects
Antelope Valley Partners for Health (AVPH) will lead volunteers in improving Wellness Homes by pulling weeds and painting the garage interior in preparation for a “get fit” program. Locations: Desert View Wellness Home (1102 W. Avenue H-5), Linda Verde Wellness Home (44848 Rodin Avenue), Lowtree Wellness Home (1038 J-5), Mariposa Wellness Home (45534 Gadsden Avenue), Piute Wellness Home (45534 5th Street E.), Trend Wellness Home (43057 39th Street W.) These projects will all take place January 14 (8 a.m.- 11:30 a.m.). Volunteers Needed!
AVPH Joshua Wellness Home (44381 Stanridge Avenue)
AVPH will lead volunteers in improving the Joshua Community Wellness Home by painting the garage interior and pulling weeds. January 15 (8 a.m.- 11:30 a.m.).
Be the Match Bone Marrow Registry (BeX Bandstand Stage, 706 Lancaster Blvd.)
Project will add donors to the bone marrow registry, giving thousands of patients with a life-threatening disease a new chance at life. Donors will sign a consent form and do a cheek swab to be added to the registry. AV Cancer Society representatives will provide insight on local cancer support efforts/opportunities. January 14 (10 a.m.-1 p.m.). Donors needed!
Blood Drive – AV Hospital (Hospital Campus @ AV Outpatient Imaging Center, 44105 15th Street W. Ste 305)
More than 2,000 residents of the Antelope Valley require lifesaving blood transfusions every year…maybe you or someone you love. No appointment necessary. Donate Tuesday and Thursday, January 10 & 12 (9 a.m.-6 p.m.), and Wednesday January 11 (7 a.m.-4 p.m.). Donors needed!
BLVD Cleanup Business Windows (The BLVD 10th – Sierra Hwy.)
Volunteers will help keep Downtown Lancaster’s BLVD beautiful by washing business windows. Meet at Bandstand Stage in front of BeX restaurant. January 14 (9 a.m.-12 p.m.). Volunteers Needed!
BLVD Cleanup Light Standards (The BLVD 10th – Sierra Hwy.)
Volunteers will help keep The BLVD beautiful by wiping down light standards. Meet at Bandstand Stage in front of BeX restaurant. January 14 (9 a.m.-12 p.m.).
BLVD Cleanup Planter Boxes & Gutters (The BLVD 10th – Sierra Hwy.)
Volunteers will help keep The BLVD beautiful by cleaning planter boxes and sweeping the gutters on each side of the ramblas. Meet at Bandstand Stage in front of BeX restaurant. January 14 (9 a.m.-12 p.m.). Volunteers Needed!
BLVD Cleanup Raking & Weeding (The BLVD 10th – Sierra Hwy.)
Volunteers will help keep The BLVD beautiful by weeding and raking tree wells and planters. Meet at Bandstand Stage. January 14 (9 a.m.-12 p.m.). Volunteers Needed!
BLVD Cleanup Walk of Honor Plaques (The BLVD 10th – Sierra Hwy.)
Volunteers will help keep The BLVD beautiful and preserve history by polishing the Aerospace Walk of Honor plaques. Meet at Bandstand Stage. January 14 (9 a.m.-12 p.m.).
Build a Bike, Benefit A Child Program (Lancaster City Park 43036 10th Street W.)
A three person team will donate $175 and work together with an underprivileged child to put together a child’s bike which will then be presented to the child. January 14 (8 a.m.-11 p.m.). Teams needed!
Lancaster National Soccer Center Painting (James C. Gilley Soccer Center, 43000 N. 30th St. E.)
Volunteers will repaint a wrought iron fence. This project adds value to this public site by enhancing its aesthetics. Volunteers will work in an open environment with the knowledge that their contribution will be on display for all to see for a very long time. January 14 (8 a.m.-12 p.m.). Volunteers Needed!
Lancaster Performing Arts Center Ambassador (Theater Usher) Project (750 W. Lancaster Blvd.)
Volunteers 18 and over will clean the theater’s concession areas, tour the theater, and learn what it takes to volunteer year round as a theater usher through the Ambassador Program. Ambassadors create an enjoyable and memorable experience for LPAC attendees. Additional information available at www.lpac.org. January 14 (9a.m-12 p.m.). Volunteers Needed!
Mariposa Park Improvements (Mariposa Park, 45755 N. Fig Avenue)
Volunteers will come together to accomplish a common goal of improving the community park by cleaning the exercise course and painting the recreation building. January 14 (8 a.m.-12 p.m.)
Tierra Bonita Park Landscape Improvements (Tierra Bonita Park, 44910 27th Street E. )
Volunteers will work together to beautify this park by filling multiple planter beds with bark and replacing two trees. January 14 (8 a.m.-12 p.m.) Volunteers needed!
The Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service is led by the Corporation for National and Community Service. The effort to make the King Holiday a “day on, not a day off” focuses on engaging Americans in service to honor Dr. King’s legacy. Each year, volunteers throughout all 50 states work on thousands of projects in observance of the Day of Service. This is the fifth year that the City of Lancaster has hosted local Day of Service projects.
View a video created by the City of Lancaster to promote MLK Day of Service 2012.
(Information via press release from the City of Lancaster.)
William says
Gee. I wonder how Rex would like it if people were out registering Democrats on the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.
Stinger says
Yes – Build a bike so that Parris can take it, give it to a kid somewhere, and take complete credit for it while trying to convince the kid that he, himself, is the one and only Santa Claus!
jo says
Cleaning up the blvd? Funny. Didn’t realize it was being neglected.
William says
Oh, yes. I was there recently and there was probably more litter on the sidewalks, in the planters and on the street than on the old Lancaster Blvd. Plus, I was surprised at how quickly oil stains from parked cars in the median accumulated, giving the BLVD a rundown appearance so soon.