Dr. MLK Day: A day on or off?

In this Aug. 28, 1963 file photo, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. acknowledges the crowd at the Lincoln Memorial for his “I Have a Dream” speech during the March on Washington. (AP Photo/File)

Before you decide to jet off to the islands this upcoming Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, consider staying home and helping out.

The move to make MLK day a “day on, not off” is in full throttle. According to organizers, “The MLK Day of Service is a way to transform Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and teachings into community action that helps solve social problems. That service may meet a tangible need, or it may meet a need of the spirit. On this day, Americans of every age and background celebrate Dr. King through service projects that strengthen communities, empower individuals, bridge barriers, and create solutions.”

This year, the holiday falls on January 20. (Dr. King’s actual birthday is Jan. 15, 1929.) If you don’t know of a local church or senior group in need of volunteers, check out volunteermatch.org to find a worthy cause.

The “Tutor Tuesday” at Shoop Academy on the South Side certainly caught my attention. What are you doing for MLK Day of Service? Let us know.

-- Adrienne Samuels Gibbs