Obama Foundation volunteerism on MLK Day makes comeback after COVID hiatus

It may have been cold and drizzly outside Monday, but it was warm and colorful inside the South Side YMCA, where dozens of volunteers came together for a day of service on the holiday honoring the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

Music pumped through the gym as members of the community got to work preparing meals, making birthday cards for seniors, planting seeds and packaging self-care kits for people in need.

It’s an event that made a comeback Monday after years on hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But it’s also expected to become routine with the completion of the Obama Presidential Center, which is being built just down the road.

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

“There are so many reasons to get up every single day and give back to your neighbors and your community,” Michael Strautmanis, executive vice president of external affairs for the Obama Foundation, told the crowd.

“But so much of what we are doing [is] driven by love. Love for our city. Love for the South Side. Love for each other and the hope that, in giving back and doing for others, we can do one small thing to make our community the beloved community that we all see.”

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

Joining the Obama Foundation at the event was the Honeycomb Project, Nourishing Hope, Growing Home, Connections for Abused Women & their Children, and the Love Fridge.

Volunteers filled the South Side gym. On one end, they packed meal boxes decorated with messages like, “Joy,” “Be Happy” and “You are the Gift.” On the other, they painted rocks, sprinkled seeds into soil and carefully watered them. Others tucked stickers and candy into pouches decorated with messages like, “You are beautiful.”

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

“The last time we were able to do this was three years ago,” Strautmanis told the Sun-Times.

He said the Obama Foundation’s partnership with the Honeycomb Project developed organically amid the foundation’s desire to begin its mission in Chicago. “Volunteerism became the thing to do,” he said.

Then, when COVID hit, Strautmanis said volunteers tried delivering meals to senior homes near the future site of the Obama Presidential Center.

“But, you know, we just couldn’t bring people together,” Strautmanis said. “Obviously, that felt irresponsible. So it was all on hold.”

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

That made Monday the “relaunch” of the Obama Foundation’s volunteer efforts in Chicago. Strautmanis said the community around the future Obama Presidential Center site “is beautiful. It has vibrant organizations. But also has profound needs.”

Still, when he walked into the YMCA gym on Monday, Strautmanis said he could feel energy pulsing from inside.

“I could tell that people were excited,” he said. “Excited to be back together again. Excited to actually do something with each other. To help each other.”

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times