EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Life’s most persistent and urgent question is “What are you doing for others?” – Martin Luther King, Jr. The Montgomery County Volunteer Center (MCVC) Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service 2015 was a success. This year’s event was a combination of organizations that participated in past years and new organizations, projects and ideas. All County locations were reported as amazing opportunities for doing volunteer work and learning about opportunities to serve year‐round. The Volunteer Center promoted activities across the county including hosting a service site at the Bethesda North Marriott Conference Center and partnering with 3 other service locations: the Silver Spring Civic Building hosted by the Montgomery County (MD) Alumnae Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; International Cultural Center; and Seneca Creek Community Church. The Bethesda North Marriott Conference Center attracted 2,200 volunteers. The event included a volunteer fair, donation drop‐off, service projects and a pledge pavilion, where attendees of all ages pledged to serve their communities. New this year was the “photo‐op” station where attendees were encouraged to take pictures in front of the “sponsor wall” and upload them to their social media sites. The Marriott was well attended by families, work groups, organizations and individuals alike. The Volunteer Fair included 41 organizations and 42 different projects were offered for the participants to engage in service. The three additional MLK sites also had a great turn out. Each location had a variety of service projects to participate in. 
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2,200 volunteers participated in 42 projects and the Volunteer Fair at the Marriott Conference Center 1,000 volunteers participated in 20 projects at the Silver Spring Civic Building 150 volunteers participated in packing 1000 lunches and cutting 1001bs of vegetables at the International Cultural Center 183 volunteers participated in 9 projects at Seneca Creek Community Church In addition to food collected from the four main sites, MCVC helped promote a county‐wide food collection at Montgomery County Giant Food Stores for Manna Food Center. Combined, over 10,000 pounds of food were collected by 411 Volunteers (1,233 hours). Dedicated supporters of our County’s MLK Day of Service, Phi Beta Sigma, hosted a blanket, sock and sleeping bag drive. Overall 195 pairs of socks, 72 blankets, and 10 sleeping bags were collected. 2
We also reached out to our registered agencies to plan projects at their own sites. For example. Montgomery County Parks supported 15 park clean ups and Weed Warriors held four weed pulls; Charles E. Smith volunteers escorted seniors to the MLK Day Program and Social; and 22 volunteers served as timekeepers. Moderators and judges at the Maryland Science Bowl. A glimpse of the volunteer fair, and some of the service projects at the Bethesda North Marriott Conference Center. All Service Projects throughout the County SERVICE PROJECT SITE Marriott Conference Center Silver Spring Civic Building International Cultural Center Seneca Creek Community Church Manna Food Center Montgomery Parks Montgomery Parks Weed Warriors Rock Creek Conservancy Chesapeake Natives City of Takoma Park Hope Worldwide, Mid Atlantic Friends of Kenilworth Gardens Maryland Science Bowl Charles E Smith Community Home PROJECT Variety of service projects Variety of service projects Variety of service projects Variety of service projects Collected food at local Giants Trash removal and recycling Invasive removal Trash clean up in 3 areas 2 projects pulling invasive weeds and clearing brush to prepare for replanting Cleaned dog park and stream valley Assist with yard work at dog sanctuary Inventoried tools, cleaned up the greenhouses, and transplanted native grasses Served as timekeepers, moderators, and judges Escorted residents to MLK Program in Social Hall TOTAL NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS # OF VOLUNTEERS 2,200 1,000 150 133 185 486 65 82 63 120 10 37 22 25 4,578 Project Outcome The Montgomery County Volunteer Center’s 2015 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service engaged 4,435 participants who served 10,268.5 hours in 101 different projects throughout the County. On the following pages, we highlight some of the numerous projects that were completed at the service sites and the total number of items that were completed by the volunteers that attended. 3
BETHESDA NORTH MARRIOTTT CONFERENCE CENTER, North Bethesda
Volunteers packed 800 peanut butter and
jelly lunch bags for local shelters. The
lunches included carrots, granola bars,
and a bottle of water.
AGENCY AND SERVICE PROJECTS
# ITEMS COMPLETED
Food Collection at Marriott
120 lbs
Habitat for Humanity – Affordable Housing crafts
89 paper houses
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority – Loom Bracelets for Vet
Families
220 bracelets
African American Health Program- Heart Health bags and
oral kits
250 bags/223 kits
Bank of America - Braid Paracord Bracelets for Veterans
100 bracelets
Bank of America- Write letters to the Troops
30 letters
Bethesda Big Train Baseball - #1 Foam Fingers
36 foam fingers
Center for a New American Dream - Reduce your Carbon
Foot Print Mural
Community Ministries of Rockville (CMR) - Create
Certificate Holders and Assemble Favors for Volunteer
Thank Yours
The Children’s Inn- decorated valentines and
crowns/masks
45 squares
100 favors and holders
50 cards/75 masks or crowns
For 3 Sisters - Breast Cancer Awareness Ribbons
300 ribbons
For 3 Sisters – Cards for cancer fighters and survivors
100 cards
Girl Scout Troop 3413 - Bedtime Kits for A Wider Circle
25 bedtime kits
Holiday Project of the National Capital Area - Cards for
Seniors
188 cards
Habonium Dror – magnets for youth at risk
200 magnets
ISWA- cards of encouragement for Ebola orphans
107 cards
4
BETHESDA NORTH MARRIOTTT CONFERENCE CENTER, North Bethesda
Housing Initiative Partnerships (HIP) - Construct File
Folders and Stuff Mailings
300 files
Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington (JCC) Cards for Veterans
100 cards
Julie’s Love- postcards for homeless/recovery community
200 postcards
Community Healthcorps- Create Health and Nutrition
Cards
125 cards
KID Museum - Make Pledge Buttons
200 buttons
Meals on Wheels - Decorate Lunch Bags
Dozens of lunch bags
Meals on Wheels - Construct and Pack Snow Day Boxes
400 snow day boxes
MC Division of Solid Waste Service – Pre-assemble crafts
make recycling pledge buttons
375 crafts/ 200 buttons
MC Foster and Adoptive Parent Services - Pack Snack
Bags and Make Cards for Children in Foster Care
250 snack bags
Montgomery Avenue Women’s Center – Sort documents
and files
780 documents
Montgomery County Humane Society - Make Dog and
Cat Toys
40 cat/100 dog toys
Montgomery County Muslim Foundation - Bouncy Rubber
Band Balls
Menare Foundation – information packets
300 balls
1, 500 packets
Montgomery Hospice - Make Blankets and Scarves
70 blankets/50 scarves
Mover Moms - Fortune Tellers for NIH Children's Inn
150 crafts
Mpambara Cox Foundation- Pen Pal for a Day
94 letters
Mpambara Cox Foundation- Skype with Students in
Uganda
60 participants
NAMI Inc – Create display and make paper flowers
One display/44 flowers
People Helping People Foundation – Beaded Bracelets
for Women Vet Event
Phi Beta Sigma - Martin Luther King, Jr. Education
Pledge Session
300 bracelets
Dozens of participants
Phi Beta Sigma- Hygiene kits for the homeless
600 kits
Rebuilding Together - Make Cards for New Homeowners
200 cards
Spark the Wave – Wrapping paper for Cradles to Crayons
2 rolls
So What Else- Create bottle bricks out of recycled goods
64 bottle bricks
5
BETHESDA NORTH MARRIOTTT CONFERENCE CENTER, North Bethesda
Senior Centers - Tissue Paper Flowers
210 tissue paper flowers
St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church and Boy Scouts of
America – Winter Kits for Homeless
Swab a Cheek, Save a Life - Become a Bone Donor
213 Kits
38 potential donors
Warm Up America - Crochet Blanket Squares
74 squares making 5 blankets
Trader Joe’s and AKA Sorority- Pack PB&J Bag Lunches
800 lunch bags
Baby’s Bounty- Write note cards for baby bundles
150 note cards
Amman Inman- Friendship exchange bracelets and cards
85 bracelets and cards
Young Women of Society- Keychains and Tissue Flowers
74 keychains/ 80 paper flowers
Silver Spring Civic Building
Volunteers made slip resistant
socks for seniors.
# ITEMS COMPLETED
SERVICE PROJECT
Girls Love Mall
68 Letters
Valentine’s Day Cards for Senior
120
Birthday Cards for Children in Foster Care
150
Get Well Cards for Pediatric Patients
200
Pillows for Seniors
128
Rubber Band Jewelry for Children in Foster Care
107
Peanut Butter and Jelly Lunch Bags for the DC Central
Kitchen
1000
Puzzle Pictures for Nursing Homes
50
6
Silver Spring Civic Building
Care Kits for Domestic Violence Victims
54
Food Collection for Manna Food Center
20 lbs
Carroll House “Move In” Packages
62
Montgomery County Alumnae Chapter African Library
Project
1000 Books Collected
Pen Pals in Uganda Mpambara Cox Foundation
55 Letters
Becky’s House Basket of Smiles
50
Dreamcatcher Keepsake Boxes
53
Montgomery Avenue Women’s Center Snack Bags
225
Friendship Pins for Youth
30
Slip Resistant Socks for Seniors
31
Bookmarks for Youth
158
Thank You for Your Service Cards for Wounded Veterans
Greeting Cards for St. Jude Ranch
International Cultural Center
Volunteers are assembling the vegetables for
the lunch bags they prepared for 10 local
shelters.
SERVICE PROJECT
# ITEMS COMPLETED
1,000 Sandwiches
100 lbs of Vegetables
3000 Cereal Packs
Lunch for Youth Against Hunger Effort for 10 Local
Shelters
7
Seneca Creek Community Church
Volunteer is making handmade cards
for Restoration Project. SERVICE PROJECT
# ITEMS COMPLETED
200 Breakfast
200 Lunches
Bagged Breakfasts and Lunches
Laundry Basket Move In Kits for Wider Circle
50
Toiletry Kits for DC Children’s Hospital, Central Union Mission,
and Frederick Rescue Mission
720
15 Pet Beds, 15 Cat Hammocks,
25 Adopt Me Bandanas, 150 Adopt
Me Signs, 150 Cat Twirler Toys
Animal Shelter Project (Pet Beds, Cat Hammocks, “Adopt Me”)
Thank You Banners and Fruit Baskets for Fire Departments
4
Operation Gratitude Paracord Bracelets and Cards
170
Placemats for Children’s Inn at NIH
100
Handmade Cards for Restoration
50
Valentine and Tissue Paper Flowers
100
Participant Survey Results # of responses at Bethesda North Marriott Conference Center: 341 # of responses at Silver Spring Civic Center: 195 # of responses at International Cultural Center: 57 # of responses at Seneca Creek Community Church: 96 8
Is This Your First Time Volunteering? Are You Likely To Take Part in the MLK Day of Service Next Year? Yes
No
Yes No
Marriott Conference Center 37% 63% 94% 6% Silver Spring Civic Center 53% 47% 97% 3% International Cultural Center 32% 68% 88% 12% Seneca Creek Community Church 39% 61% 95% 5% This Event Made a Positive Impact on the Community. I Feel a Personal Sense of Accomplishment after Participating in this Event. I am More Likely to Volunteer in Other Ways throughout the Year as a Result of Today’s Event. Strongly Agree/Agree
Strongly Agree/Agree
Strongly Agree/Agree
Marriott Conference Center 95% 91% 83% Silver Spring Civic Center 94% 85% 77% International Cultural Center 100% 93% 89% Seneca Creek Community Church 89% 95% 76% Media Outreach Efforts (Public Outreach, Ads, Press Releases, Newsletters, Etc.) Two Montgomery County Press Releases and Media Advisory Organization Newsletters (example: Delta’s, AKA’s and Sigma’s Newsletters) Visits to local organization meetings and events (ex: Military Hospital MLK event) MCPS December and January Quick Notes Mentions/Blurbs in OCP and MCVC Newsletters (Constant Contact) Special Edition Newsletter (Constant Contact) Make a Difference TV show aired through January on County Cable Gazette Ads (November, December and January) Fliers distributed to all Montgomery County Libraries Electronic Flyer sent out to all SSL Coordinators in middle and high schools and PTA 9
Articles in Montgomery Volunteer, Office of Community Partnership, Corporate Volunteers Council, and Regional Service Center newsletters Video by Montgomery Community Media Funding We are very fortunate to receive continued support from the Fund for Montgomery and all of its sponsors. We also received funding from the Governor’s Office on Service & Volunteerism through the Volunteer Generation Fund grant, as well as some funding from Montgomery County Government. Without these three funders we would not have been able to expand this year’s event and cover the cost of all the amazing projects that took place. Other sponsors included Trader Joes ($1,000 in food donations for bag lunches), Safeway sponsoring lunch project for 1,000 lunches. $5,000 from Marriott International, and an in‐kind assistance from Gentle Giant Moving Company. A Special Thank You to All of Our Sponsors Adventist HealthCare • Ana G. Mendez University • Barwood Transportation • Bank of America • BioHealth Innovations Choice Hotels • Community Foundation for Montgomery County • County Executive Ike Leggett • The Gazette Gentle Giant Moving Company • Gloria Estrada Photography • The International Cultural Center • Jewish Community Relations Council • Jewish Federation of Greater Washington • Lerch, Early & Brewer • Marriott • MCAC Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc • Montgomery College • Montgomery County Muslim Foundation • Montgomery County Senior Nutrition Program • RAFFA, P.C. Riderwood • SG Enterprise/Sol Graham • Safeway • The Sanford and Doris Slavin Foundation • Seneca Creek Community Church Social & Scientific Systems • Trader Joe’s • Universities at Shady Grove (USG) • Verizon •Washington Gas • Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) • Westfield Wheaton 10