In 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed into law a federal holiday honoring Martin Luther King, Jr., and it was observed for the first time on January 20, 1986. In 
1994, Congress passed the King Holiday and Service Act, officially designating the holiday as a day of service—or, as the slogan says, “a day on, not a day off.”
Across the Upstate, communities are offering opportunities for service, along with other events that honor the legacy of Martin Luther King.
Spartanburg has a lot going on, with the City of Spartanburg sponsoring a Unity Week Celebration and the United Way of the Piedmont is serving as a repository for local organizations needing volunteers for MLK Day projects—once you click the link, you’ll see more than 30 service projects that you can sign up for.
United Way of Anderson has shifted their day of celebration and service to Saturday the 18th for their Dream Day—come with a group, and you’ll be paired with a partner organization that needs volunteers. Plus all participants will get a t-shirt!
Area colleges and universities also have plenty of opportunities for students to serve, as well as programs for the community to participate in: check out the events at Furman, Clemson, Greenville Tech, Lander University, Limestone College, and Anderson University.
Check out our calendar, too, for service opportunities and other MLK celebrations!