Shingle a roof, shovel debris, serve your community Jan. 19 (and before and after!)

Jan. 19 Observe National Day of Service here
Barack Obama is calling for a National Day of Service to take place on Jan. 19, the federal holiday for the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday and the days preceding the inauguration on Jan. 20.
This year, the Orcas Island Community Foundation and Orcas Island Chamber of Commerce have announced several community service opportunities:

• There will be a work party at the Orcas Island School District to clean up in the flower beds in between the Elementary and the Administration office, and clean up and expand the vegetable garden in preparation for the Farm to Cafeteria program. All are welcome to pitch in.If you have tools (wheelbarrows, rakes, shovels, gloves, or clippers) bring them along. If not, there will be some to lend. The party starts at 9:30 and ends when the project or the volunteers are done.
• Another garden opportunity is offered by the Orcas Island Historical Museum. Volunteers are needed to help with winter clean-up and soil amending around the historical museum buildings. Meet outside the museum on the brick pathway; work will be in progress from 10 AM to 3 PM. Help keep our historical museum tidy!
• For folks who would prefer an indoor activity, Kaleidoscope is anticipating a full house on the 19th and would appreciate all who are willing to read a story, direct a craft project, or push a swing (their staff will be there to supervise, and lend a hand as needed). If you have a craft in mind, contact Amber Minnis, 376-2484, to arrange supplies.
• Finally, The Orcas Montessori School needs assistance building planting boxes for the garden at the school and cabinet doors for a storage cabinet. Therese Chocano, 376-5350, is the contact person if you are able and willing to help.

Join your Orcas Island neighbors and others around the country and spend this coming Monday—Martin Luther King Day—volunteering to serve the urgent needs in our communities.
Some folks have been hit harder by the recession than others, but we’re all in it together. We’ve all got to roll up our sleeves and help each other out. And volunteering is always a great experience — in just a few hours, you can help make a huge difference in the lives of others, and often meet new friends.
In Washington D.C. on Monday, Americans from around the country will assemble care packages for troops in Iraq at the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium (inside a heated tent).
Lopez Community Land Trust will hold a “shingling party” at the Common Ground neighborhood, where volunteers will shingle some of the 11 affordable homes being built at 758 Lopez Road from 8 a.m until 5 p.m.

On Tuesday, Barack Obama will officially start the massive job of restoring our country. As president, he plans to expand national service programs like AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps and to create new service organizations1, including:

1. a Classroom Corps to help underserved schools; 
2. a Health Corps to serve in the nation’s clinics and hospitals;
3. a Clean Energy Corps to achieve the goal of energy independence; and
4. a Veterans Corps to support the Americans who serve in harm’s way. 

To sign up for the Orcas Island Community Service Party at the Orcas school or to sponsor another event, go to https://www.moveon.org/r?r=51086&zip_radius[0]=98245&id=15391-1920211-FfJc0Cx&t=3 or visit the Renew America Together website (www.usaservice.org ) to find a service opportunity or create your own!

You can go to the website and find out about projects without registering. You can also start an event (Please let OrcasIssues know of your event by commenting to this post).

Orcas Issues welcomes comments from non-profits and other community groups for projects for Jan. 19 Day of Service projects. Please provide contact information. Thanks!