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The Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Jan. 15, 2024, marks the 29th anniversary of the day of service that celebrates the Civil Rights leader’s life and legacy. Observed each year on the third Monday in January as “a day on, not a day off,” MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities.

This year, we’re providing options for “anytime” service opportunities that can be done as an individual or as a group.  Browse the options below and click on each opportunity for more information and to sign up/contribute.

Do you know of an opportunity that isn’t listed here?  Submit new volunteer options to us here.  If you participate in one of these events/drives, take a picture or a video and send it to us!  We’ll showcase your efforts on the website.  Have any questions?  Visit our FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) or contact us at info@andoverserviceday.org.

We are actively seeking community members who are interested in coordinating Service Day in the future. If you’re interested, please reach out at info@andoverserviceday.org.

Please note, this committee is run by parent and community member volunteers.  Andover Service Day is not associated formally with the Town of Andover or Andover Public Schools.  We assume no liability in the event of injury or conflict during any of the proposed volunteer opportunities, and you agree to these terms upon signing up for any of the following projects.

We’re doing things a little differently this year!  Projects available below are opportunities that can be done at any time; there are no same-day activities planned at this time.  There are no signups this year, please feel free to select one or as many opportunities as you are interested in completing and following the instructions provided.

Any opportunity marked with a red star is recommended for older kids and/or adults only.  See each opportunity’s detail for more information.

Thank you to Create the Change (formally Project Giving Kids) for their help in compiling many of the opportunities listed below.  Volunteer opportunities that they helped orchestrate are denoted with their old logo.  For more information, click below:

Download, print and distribute our flyer today to help us spread the word!

ANY DAY OPPORTUNITIES

The following projects are not date specific and can be done at any time, by any number of people, at (mostly) any age – any project marked as a red star are recommended to be done with high school kids or older.  Each project provides an outside resource or reference for further instruction, but feel free to reach out to us at info@andoverserviceday.org for more information if needed.

Organize a drive or personally donate needed household items for families
in need of furnishings in the Merrimack Valley.

Questions?  Contact info@phama.org.

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Provide personal care packets for distribution from the Lazarus House Soup Truck. Every Friday night in January, February and March, we take soup and sandwiches to our Community. In addition, we offer much-needed personal care products - the very basics - shampoo, soap, deodorant, toothpaste and toothbrush. We take 60 every Friday in our van but will accept any amount you are able to donate.

Schedule a date for drop-off by emailing Marcy@Lazarushouse.org.

Questions?  Contact Marcy Furse (marcy@lazarushouse.org).

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Thrift Store sorting, organizing and merchandising.
Collect a donation of your own (gently used clothing, household goods,
bedding) to bring with you!

Questions?  Contact Marcy Furse (marcy@lazarushouse.org).

CLICK HERE TO SIGNUP ON THE LAZARUS HOUSE VOLUNTEERHUB PORTAL

Make hand-tied fleece blankets for the 11 children living at our
Shelter to be given out on Valentine's Day.
If interested, age and sex can be provided.

Questions?  Contact Marcy Furse (marcy@lazarushouse.org).

Create handmade Valentine Cards for 40 children, ranging in age from 3 to 16. They should include a riddle or an encouraging statement, such as 'You are Loved!" or 'You Shine like a Star!'. They can be any shape or size. They can be dropped off any time before February 8th.

Questions?  Contact Marcy Furse (marcy@lazarushouse.org).

Coordinate the baking and selling of dog biscuits to raise funds for the MSPCA.

Knit, Crochet or Craft for Isolated, Older Adults.

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Collect and host a sale of gently used stuffed animals.

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Collect and deliver used bikes.

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Have one or two Porchfests (or Lobby Fests if too cold outside)
on your day of service, great for high school kids!

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Coordinate the collection of travel and full sized
(new and unopened) hygiene products for homeless in Boston.

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A Jared Box is a plastic shoe box filled with games, toys, activities
and notes for a child undergoing medical treatment in a hospital.

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Welcome Snack Bags for Families Staying in Boston for medical purposes.

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Purchase/hold a drive for supplies and put together toiletry bags for local seniors.

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Purchase/hold a drive for supplies and put together game bags for local seniors.

Make a Craft for Kids in Hospital - all ages, all ideas of crafts.

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Benefits kids who have lost a parent and are part of Wildflower
nonprofit that helps them afford summer camp.
Recommended for high school kids.

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Coordinate drives to collect goods (furniture, mattresses,
blankets, etc) for Household Goods in Acton.

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Coordinate neighborhood cleanup initiatives throughout the town.

No signups necessary - coordinate cleanup crews with your friends, neighbors, extracurricular friends and/or family.
Pick a neighborhood in town and help cleanup!  Especially if small children are helping, please be mindful of busy streets.

Collect and deliver food to Neighbors in Need.

Coordinate drives to collect furniture, blankets, mattresses and other
household items for New Life Furniture Bank in Walpole.

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Make tie blankets for babies, pets or troops.

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For Room to Grow to Benefit Babies: https://www.projectgivingkids.org/activities/make-a-nosew-baby-blanket/
For Soldier's Angels to benefit troops: https://www.projectgivingkids.org/activities/blankets-needed-storebought-handmade-or-nosew/

Join a virtual farm team to read and collect pledges for all the pages read.

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Make gratitude art for your local firefighters.

Help collect used crayons to keep them out of landfills.

Click here for more information.

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Collect cell phones, tablets and MP3 players to
drop off in Reading or Middleton.

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Write thank you notes to soldiers.

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Make cards and write letters to local senior citizens.

Coordinate drives to collect household goods for the
Welcome Home project based in Newton.

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Collect and deliver clothing for Lazarus House.

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