​MLK Civil Rights Conference Attendees Volunteer at Day of Community Service

Over 400 attendees at the AFL-CIO's MLK Civil Rights Conference fanned out across the metro area Saturday morning to participate in the Day of Community Service. A dozen local charities, coordinated by the Metro Council's Community Services Agency, hosted the volunteers, with transportation coordinated by United Mineworkers of America and lunch provided by United Food and Commercial Workers. "Thank you for sending an absolutely tremendous group of people!"  said Jessica Adams, Executive Director of the Arlington County American Red Cross. "The energy level was high from the time they stepped off the bus until they got back on. Today's event was instrumental to ensuring the safety of residents in the Deanwood community in DC as volunteers went door to door talking about their fire escape plans and installing smoke alarms or testing and changing batteries as needed in existing smoke alarms." Some of the volunteers had Red Cross stories of their own, Adams said. "Both had experienced a fire in their home or relative's home and received assistance from the Red Cross. It was heartwarming to hear their stories and what it meant for them to be able to join the Home Fire Campaign and help keep others prepared and safe." Other participating agencies included the Arlington Food Assistance Center, Capital Area Food Bank (where volunteers sorted over 26,000 pounds of food), Food and Friends, Mary’s Center, Shabach Ministries, 
SHARE Food Network, the Ward 8 Councilmember LaRuby May Senior Service Project, Washington Parks and People, We are Family Senior Outreach Network and several DCPS schools.